# Airbags in laps **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 28, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569 "2013-01-28T00:25:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tabrisangel19](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@tabrisangel19](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tabrisangel19)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/1 "2013-01-28T00:25:24Z")
This is a potentially salacious question, but can the bottom of an automotive safety airbag (in the course of a normal deployment) hit a person in the erm, private area Has it happened to you? Feel free to share any experiences. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/2 "2013-01-28T00:28:05Z")
Well based on the deployment locations in my car I would say that if it did you were standing on your head in the seat. Unless by private area you mean breasts in which case yes and by all accounts it hurts but less than hitting the actual dash. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/3 "2013-01-28T01:11:20Z")
If you have an elephant trunk-like penis, yes. I had never thought of this. I’ll be more careful. ---
**Author:** ![applebetty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@applebetty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/applebetty)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/4 "2013-01-28T01:31:12Z")
Potentially, yes if you have an erection at the time. If flaccid you’d probably only get momentary localized tissue compression. There’s a lot of ‘give’ in that situation. Aside: If you are masturbating without a seatbelt while driving 80mph in your semi-truck, you will wreck and break your penis. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/5 "2013-01-28T02:28:26Z")
[makes note]: Stay under 70 when driving while masturbating. I’m learning a lot in this thread! ---
**Author:** ![tabrisangel19](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@tabrisangel19](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tabrisangel19)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/6 "2013-01-28T07:42:27Z")
I wonder if there have ever been any cases of, well, ejaculation in car wrecks ever? ---
**Author:** ![Snerky\_Snerk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Snerky\_Snerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snerky_Snerk)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/7 "2013-01-28T10:23:44Z")
> [@tabrisangel19](#): > > I wonder if there have ever been any cases of, well, ejaculation in car wrecks ever? Maybe. I hope I never run into someone who’s a symphorophiliac. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphorophilia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphorophilia) ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/8 "2013-01-28T11:05:33Z")
One of my student’s planes has airbags built into the seat belt\* (lap belt portion). I’ve always been a little nervous about exactly what would happen if it deployed, being so close to Mr Happy and all. \*It works like [this](http://flighttraining.aopa.org/images/ft_magazine/2011/september/1109cover2.jpg), but note how it seems to originate in the poor dummy’s crotch. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/9 "2013-01-28T12:51:11Z")
It might be worth pointing out that the OP has posted 8 times on this board since registering 2 years ago, all of which were asking about airbags and what it’s like when they hit you, how to get a deployed airbag, etc. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/10 "2013-01-28T13:07:50Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > It might be worth pointing out that the OP has posted 8 times on this board since registering 2 years ago, all of which were asking about airbags and what it’s like when they hit you, how to get a deployed airbag, etc. :dubious: As a bodily injury claims guy who settles about 200-300 cases, and consults on another 500-600, a year, I have honestly never heard groin trauma caused by an airbag. I’ve seen a lot of injuries, including exactly two fairly mild cases that were credibly linked to long-lasting endocrine imbalances, and the only penis damage I’ve seen has been blunt force trauma from the jagged bits on motorcycle handlebars. Also, I’ve heard of no recalls or industry reports of airbags causing any sort of lap damage. If you were to present one to me without a really good description of the mechanism for your injury I think I’d feel safe letting a jury decide your case. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/11 "2013-01-28T16:31:26Z")
I was wondering about the OP, and why all of his posts are about airbags. **tabrisangel19** , would you be willing to share what the fascination is with airbags? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/12 "2013-01-28T21:44:53Z")
The depths of sexual fetishes just never get plumbed, do they? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/13 "2013-01-28T21:45:57Z")
Hmmm, plumber porn… ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/14 "2013-01-29T00:03:25Z")
Only really works if you’re into crack. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/15 "2013-01-29T05:48:09Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > As a bodily injury claims guy who settles about 200-300 cases, and consults on another 500-600, a year, I have honestly never heard groin trauma caused by an airbag. I’ve seen a lot of injuries, including exactly two fairly mild cases that were credibly linked to long-lasting endocrine imbalances, and the only penis damage I’ve seen has been blunt force trauma from the jagged bits on motorcycle handlebars. Also, I’ve heard of no recalls or industry reports of airbags causing any sort of lap damage. If you were to present one to me without a really good description of the mechanism for your injury I think I’d feel safe letting a jury decide your case. Side note: do I have any actual cause to worry about injury from an airbag hitting my glasses, or am I being neurotic again? 🙂 (I’m 5’4"-ish, in case height is relevant.) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/16 "2013-01-29T13:18:48Z")
> [@Snerky\_Snerk](#): > > Maybe. I hope I never run into someone who’s a symphorophiliac. > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphorophilia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphorophilia) Ironically, they can’t wait to run into you. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/17 "2013-01-29T15:16:31Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > Side note: do I have any actual cause to worry about injury from an airbag hitting my glasses, or am I being neurotic again? 🙂 (I’m 5’4"-ish, in case height is relevant.) I’m sure worse has happened, but the worst airbag injury I’ve seen was a little old lady who got her nose broke. It’s my understanding that newer bag systems inflate faster/slower depending on the severity of the impact, and in any event, they don’t come out as hard as they used to. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/18 "2013-01-29T15:36:42Z")
If they did go off aimed at laps, immediately afterwards would the computer play a bell tone followed by a mechanical voice saying, “Now, pay attention…” ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/19 "2013-01-29T15:41:17Z")
You’re gonna love _The World According to Garp_. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569/20 "2013-01-30T18:18:06Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > One of my student’s planes has airbags built into the seat belt\* (lap belt portion). I’ve always been a little nervous about exactly what would happen if it deployed, being so close to Mr Happy and all. > > \*It works like [this](http://flighttraining.aopa.org/images/ft_magazine/2011/september/1109cover2.jpg), but note how it seems to originate in the poor dummy’s crotch. _“Are you happy to see me or are you crash-landing?”_ :dubious: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbags-in-laps/648569.md?page=2)