i suppose automobile airbags were developed after the emergency inflatable slides that every airliners aircrafts nowadays are equipped with. Those slides have saved lives, of course, but they are also known to have killed and injured ground workers by accidental deployments when the aircrafts were parked.
now imagine you're driving and, at the same time, sipping gourmet coffee from a steel can
and the airbag deploys for no reason at all.. bwahahahaha... hello!! are you alright? bwahahaha...
well... it's just that the airbags are designed upon the premises that you always assume an appropriate driving posture and keep a safe distance to the steering wheel.
but doing so is essential to a safe driving, in big cars, in small cars, with airbags, with trash bags...
what do i have to say? keep your current car and save money, just wear your seatbelt and be alert, turn off your radio, CD and cell phone, no food and drink, anticipate foul moves, and you'll be driving like a devil in the our murderous freeways and get home in one piece.
cheers