+creagerstonefamily Posted January 13, 2003 Share Posted January 13, 2003 Just a friendly reminder (not from a bad experience or anything).... It's something you've probably already noticed, but it deserves a second glance...especially if you're getting into an unfamiliar vehicle. The next time you get in the car, double check to be sure that all components (gps mount, power cable, etc.) of your GPS window or dash mount are well clear of any airbags. I recently moved my RAM window mount to the center of my window where the cable is a bit more inconvenient, but is well away from the passenger airbag. If your mount is over an airbag, you or a passenger could be seriously injured or killed by having it smack into your head at a hundred miles an hour. A wayward power cord could also slingshot the outlet adaptor into someone's eye or face. Caching isn't worth losing an eye or something worse. A few extra seconds of attention could save someone's life. Quote Link to comment
+Chazman007 Posted January 13, 2003 Share Posted January 13, 2003 I couldn't think of a better way to go, getting slammed in the face with my GPS. I use a sandbag mount for my Trek.... Quote Link to comment
+worldtraveler Posted January 13, 2003 Share Posted January 13, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Chazman007:I couldn't think of a better way to go, getting slammed in the face with my GPS... Just let us know when you're ready. These things can be arranged. Worldtraveler Quote Link to comment
+bradtal Posted January 13, 2003 Share Posted January 13, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Chazman007:I couldn't think of a better way to go, getting slammed in the face with my GPS. I can just picture the autopsy report... 'Minor cuts and bruises. Broken thumb... The word "Garmin" was imprinted backwards in his forehead...' Quote Link to comment
+Marky Posted January 13, 2003 Share Posted January 13, 2003 quote:Originally posted by RobAGD:BTW - no one was hurt, my Jeep took the brunt of both impacts Those are some scary pics! I'm glad nobody was hurt! --Marky "All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer with a backlit GPSr" Quote Link to comment
+GeoForse Posted January 13, 2003 Share Posted January 13, 2003 I know the wisdom of this advice, and unfortunately, I learned it by experiance. Last summer, I was helping my son ferry his second car across country. My daughter-in-law was driving when we became involved in an accident on the freeway near Ranch Cucamonga, California. We eventually came to rest against the guardrail, and the airbags blew. My GPS, a Mag Map 330 was in a winshield/dashboard mount, and apparently, the base of the mount was resting on the far edge of the airbag cover. When the airbag blew, it propelled the GPS, mount and all, up into the windshield. It tore the GPS out of the mount, and tore the back off the GPS as well. The mount was twisted badly, and had glass ground into the plastic. The upshot of all this is was that the windshield would not have been broken, except for the GPS. The GPS was essentially unharmed, the mount was salvageable, No one was seriously injured, the car took about a month to get repaired, and we were delayed about five days on the trip. Be very careful where you put your windshield/dashboard mount. GeoForse, and occasionally, the GreatrForse Quote Link to comment
GRANDMASTER CACHE Posted January 13, 2003 Share Posted January 13, 2003 If this raises the awareness of just one person, it is so valuable. I'd also like to point out that on the Chevy Suburban (which in turn can be seen on many other GM platforms) circa 99 and before, that the front passenger airbag actually had a recall to place a steel panel on the dash just above the glovebox. This was to keep the airbag from deploying too far up and being useless for smaller passengers. We opted to not have the local dealer tear our dash apart to put in a piece of aesthetically unpleasing black piece of metal. Their attitude was pretty crappy about doing the work, and I'd rather they didn't cut into my truck with a poor attitude. Anyway, point is that this is to retain the top of the dash.... So, if this helps anyone I'm glad to help. Airbags deploy so darn fast and a GPSr can easily cause fatal damage where a person could otherwise walk away without a scratch. Great topic, and I hope people are reminded from time to time. I really like the Magellan mount which can be mounted center window (just to the right of the radar detector) and turned to face either the driver or passenger. The Garmin beanbag mount is also an easy to place unit. We used to use place our legend (face side up, of course) as far forward as possible, in the center, and I'd only check it at a stop, or my wife would be "in charge" of it. I am just now starting a thread about PAYING ATTENTION which is also important. If you hide it, they will come. Grandmaster Cache Quote Link to comment
+Planet Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 (edited) I hear that's what happened to this guy: Edited December 9, 2003 by Planet Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 Back when I learned to drive, we were taught to use the hand-over-hand technique when turning a corner. This apparently is out of favor now, as it can place one or both of your arms just inches away from the air bag. They now suggest using the "trucker" style of steering - keeping each hand on its own side of the wheel. Quote Link to comment
+bons Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 Or just turn the airbag off. Hey, I don't care if you don't agree. I'm just offering you a choice. Quote Link to comment
+Gorak Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 The next time you get in the car, double check to be sure that all components (gps mount, power cable, etc.) of your GPS window or dash mount are well clear of any airbags Very timely advice. Thank you. I just received my new GPSr and dash mount a couple of hours ago. The thought of airbags deploying hadn't even crossed my mind. When I install the mount this evening I will definately take that into account. Death by GPS may sound like a great way to go, but I don't think I want to try it. Thanks, again. __________ Gorak Geo 36 20 Quote Link to comment
+rusty_tlc Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 (edited) I was looking for the kind of mount they put in police cars to hold a laptop. When I get my laptop I want to take it caching. Seems like the police would have to have a pretty secure system. Aybody know where to get them? Edited December 9, 2003 by rusty_tlc Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 I was looking for the kind of mount they put in police cars to hold a laptop. When I get my laptop I want to take it caching. Seems like the police would have to have a pretty secure system. Aybody know where to get them? I recall this site used to have them. Quote Link to comment
+Bloencustoms Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 I was looking for the kind of mount they put in police cars to hold a laptop. When I get my laptop I want to take it caching. Seems like the police would have to have a pretty secure system. Aybody know where to get them? Try JottoDesk for universal, and vehicle-specific laptop mounts. Quote Link to comment
Grimmy Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 Or just turn the airbag off. Hey, I don't care if you don't agree. I'm just offering you a choice. I intentionally don't own a car with Airbags. My wife is 5ft tall and because of her seating possition so close to the wheel it greatly increases her chance of injury or death. The latest trend with airbags is eye injuries if you dont get your arms and wrists broken. It happens so fast that people don't get their eyes closed. The surface of the airbage is rather rough and acts like sand paper to the cornia. Have you ever seen a bag go off? I have deotnated a few. My buddy was in Warranty parts testing for a Auto Manufacture. If the Airbag trouble light went of this manufacture replaced the airbags. He would bring those bags home and we would detontate them. The wheel bags have a steel backing plate. They weigh about 8lb. We had to retrieve them off the roof of his house a few time.....His 2 story house. They sound like a M80 going off and that's not far from what they are. They use the same propelent used in the solid rocket boosters for the space shuttle. You must understand that Airbags were designed to protect a UNBELTED person 5'6" tall and 160lb. It can and has killed belted drivers that are of short stature and weigh around 100lb (like my wife). I believe in belts and I believe airbags should be an OPTION. Then I'll buy a new car when I don't have to pay $2k for a device I don't want. Till then I'll just pay cash for older cars that are either disposable or worth dropping an engine in when I wear them out. Reguardless it was good that this information was posted. It is important to understand that airbages can create projectils of anything on the dash. I install Car phones and the location of the phone is something I do have to concider the airbags. Fortunatly there are several companies that sell specialized mounts that locate the equipment out of the way of the bags. Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 while I'm one who uses his Vista with it's tiny screen on a windshield mount, I gotta believe the issue here is not where you place it. Rather its looking at and fiddling with the thing that will get you into an accident faster. Quote Link to comment
+1setter Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 I tried going without any mount for a while, but after my wife got hit in the knee a few times, she made me buy one. That was a first. Making me buy something for one of my expensive hobbies. Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 Not near any airbags........ Quote Link to comment
+SearchRescueDog Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 So I guess if it is a bad idea to have a cord near the pass. side airbag then this product would be a bad idea on the driver's side Quote Link to comment
+carleenp Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 (edited) I had never thought about the GPS on the airbag issue until I went on vacation and my insurance industry friend riding with me said to watch out about setting the GPS on the dash. She also told me that claims come in every year where a passenger put his or her feet on the dash over the air bag. The force of airbag going off with the feet there then broke the legs in the best cases, and amputated them in the worst! I have my own airbag worry. I am small, and while I sit beyond the 10 inch recommendation from the wheel, it is pretty close! I initially asked to have a driver side switch installed and the dealer said that they couldn't do it since I was 11 inches from the wheel. Apparently to have the switch installed it has to be less than 10 inches. Yet, I read somewhere that the better number would be 12! Edited December 11, 2003 by carleenp Quote Link to comment
+LukeH Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 What are all you people wasting your money for buying mounts and junk like that, haven't any of you ever heard of duck tape? Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 Dustyjacket is navigating in his garage! Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 Dustyjacket is navigating in his garage! Some of us need all the help we can get. Quote Link to comment
+quills Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 dustyjacket where did you get that mount? are they available for garmins? Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I bought it from the most expensive source - Magellan. I doubt they have a Garmin model, especially as the "hooks" and power cord are specific to the model. Search GPSonline.com and all the other sites for a Garmin model. RAM Mounts has a different model of suction cup mount that will fit Garmins. Quote Link to comment
+Brian - Team A.I. Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I have a similar type mount for my Vista. Sits just to the left of my field of vision, just below my eyes. I can glance at it and still have my eyes on the road, and it hinders not. The only problem I have is in the summer heat here, the suction can fail and I have to clean the glass to get a secure suction again. The film that develops from the heat is killer for attachment. Quote Link to comment
+Amazon Annie Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 (edited) A very close friend of mine was in an accident where the airbags deployed. She now has severe brain damage and needs 24 hr supervision. She (like myself) is very small and the officials said it was due to a ) Older airbag model b ) Too close to the wheel She was driving in the city and not speeding. They figure she was going approx. 15-20km/hr. I went into my dealership and asked about having my airbags removed. They gave me brochures and talked to me for quite a while about my decision. I have since bought a new vehicle and have checked the airbags (they are the 'good' type). I'm presently using a clip on the vent type of attachment (for a cell phone) but I've read elsewhere that this can be expensive (if the vent snaps). I'd like a dash mount for my Magellan from S. Claus but I'm now hesitating and I'll look into this alot more. Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention! Edited December 12, 2003 by 1Short Quote Link to comment
+Sparky-Watts Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 As a retired paramedic, I can vouch for the necessity in following this advice. I have seen many people seriously injured in low-speed impacts by their airbags. I have a video of some firefighters in Ohio trying to extricate a patient from the back seat of a car with the jaws of life. The airbags detonated and threw one 250lb firefighter 20 feet from the car, leaving him in critical condition. The other firefighter caught a glancing blow and fractured several ribs, bruised his liver, and ruptured his spleen. Thank you for posting this message, it is definitely something people should be aware of. Quote Link to comment
+quills Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Thanks dustyjacket Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.