The origins of the airbag date back to the 1950s. It was then that John W. Hetrick was involved in a car accident, after which he came up with the idea to increase passenger safety. In 1953, he obtained a patent for a "safety airbag assembly for motor vehicles".
John W. Hetrick
In 1960, mechanic and engineer Allen K. Breed developed the world's first electromechanical airbag system activated by a crash sensor. Car companies GM and Ford further developed this invention. Many obstacles were encountered along the way, including the long time needed to fill the airbags with air, an imperfect crash detection system and problems with selecting the appropriate material.
The first car with an airbag installed went on sale in 1973 and was the Oldsmobile Toronado .
Oldsmobile Toronado
Interestingly, the airbags were initially intended to be an alternative to seat belts . Equipping cars with both an airbag and seat belts was initiated by Mercedes only in 1981, when it brought this solution to Europe. The first model on the European market with an airbag system was the Mercedes-Benz W126.
Mercedes-Benz W126
Airbag technology has developed over the years. Air curtains, solutions that protect the driver's knees, feet and even pedestrians have appeared on the market. Today, airbags are standard equipment in all cars, affecting the safety and comfort of drivers around the world.