I was on my home from work on Highway 31 (9:15 pm) going 65 mph (cruise control on) when all of a sudden I see this head. It’s a DEER!!! WHACK!! Right into the left side of my beautiful baby, the first thing I thought when I saw its head was that the airbags were going to go off. But there was nothing. AHHH!!! My 4th accident (none of them my fault), and I’m only 21, what’s up with that. So I pull over to examine the extent of the injuries (to my car of course). First thing I saw was that my driver side view mirror was completely turned around. I know the mirrors were breakaway, but didn’t know they turned completely around. Anyways, I look at the front, expecting the bumper and hood to be crushed. Nothing?!?! Then I look at the left fender, and there’s a big dent, no, no wait, more like a crater in the side of my car. My questions is: shouldn’t the airbags have gone off? I mean come on, a 65 mph impact with something as big as a deer and no deployment? I have been T-Bonned at about 20 mph while in a '99 neon, and no airbags (doesn’t have side impact airbags, but no front airbag deployment), and I was also rear ended while at a stopped at a stop sign. Other car was going about 15 mph, and no air bag then either. But I thought for sure, at the rate of speed there should have been something. So, who knows all about how airbags work. Do they deploy based on the force, location, or speed of impact? I’ve heard of accidents where the airbags go off in accidents at like 10 mph +, and nothing here? Granted the impact wasn’t enough to whip my head around, or really, even budge the car, but does this mean the car is more than just Braun and Beauty, but smart as well? The airbags weren’t necessary in this accident, and had they actually gone off, the cost of repair would have been, much, much, much higher.

Here is a link of a Mercedes airbag going off after a very low impact hit.

http://thatvideosite.com/view/890.html

Keep in mind, the crossfire has the “Mind” of a Mercedes, with Chrysler Badging.

Now that I’m done Rambling, bring on the comments and suggestions.

 

XF-KID, glad to hear that you weren't injured. Sometimes with car/deer type encounters, drivers wind up with 4 legged front seat passenger. If it happens to be a "Buck" it can be especially nasty.
To answer your question about what it takes to set off the air bags, well, that's a good question.
I've seen some cars with devastating front end damage, and the air bags were still intact. Then I've seen a few cars that had only slight damage, and the air bags went off and caused alot more.
I guess it's all depends upon exactly what area on the front of the car receives the brunt of the impact. If the airbag sensors aren't disturbed, the bags do not deploy.
I'm sure someone with a little more body repair background than I have can explain it alot better.
Just be glad yours didn't go off.

 

Did you get the Deer's insurance information?

 

Unfortunately the semi behind me served up a little street justice, so it was a little hard to get his information when his brains were a half mile down the road. Seriously though, after I hit it, it was all in one piece, and before I know it, all these other cars hit the thing, and hard. And they just keep on going. WTF? I'd be pissed, and would pull over if I hit something in the road to check for damage. But, not good old wisconsin drivers, they just kept going. By the time the police came to remove it from the road, it had gotten pushed/dragged a good 2-3 city blocks down the road. It was kind of nasty when your on the side of the road and when someone hits it, you can just hear the bones getting sent down the road and stuff.

 

the airbags in your car are controlled by sensors that measure deceleration/acceleration and are deployed at some threshold where your head and upper body would likely otherwise impact the steering wheel or side window.

since the deer didn't cause the car to decelerate dramatically, no airbags were deployed. which is a good thing, because it's not fun to operate a vehicle when you can't see. if you crash the front of your car into a large deer or perhaps an elephant, the front airbags could deploy due to the rapid deceleration. if a T-Rex charges through an intersection and T-bones you, chances are your side airbags will deploy due to the sudden lateral acceleration caused by the impact. if you get rear ended by a black rhino at 25 mph, the airbags shouldn't deploy at all since your body should only impact the back of the seat and head restraint.

 

We do have quite a problem with black rhinos in Ohio!!!

 

While black Rhinos and T-Rexes may not be frequent in Ohio you do need to beware of the bison (buffaloes).

http://www.sunnews.com/news/2006/part1/0119/EBISON.htm

 

I live in Ohio, and I'm still trying to get the thought of being "rear ended by a black Rhino" out of my mind.
It sounded too much like a bad "prison euphemism."

 

Just think Mike if the black rhino mated with your white Crossfire you may have something that looks like a cow.