Afraid of Getting Into an Accident

[butterfly75]

I have a fear of getting into an accident and the airbags going off (I've read the sound of airbags going off is about 160 db.) I'm going to get my license soon, but I still get anxiety thinking about being involved in a crash and tinnitus getting louder.

I'm afraid of being hit by a drunk driver, or someone texting and driving, or something like that, and being in a situation I can't control.

My dad says he's only been in minor accidents and the airbags never went off but my mind won't stop going to the worst possible situations.

I'm getting anxiety whenever I'm in the car driving, especially on the highway, and I have to take my road test soon.

 

[yonkapin]

Well it's tricky. Definitely a scary prospect with an airbag going off at 160db, but on the flip side it could save life or save you from a life long debilitating condition like spinal damage, paralysis, severe brain damage - the list goes on and on.

The airbags are there for your safety. Try not to worry too much about it, just be an aware driver. Serious accidents are a rare occurrence, especially if you are cautious.

If some freak accident occurs where the airbag does go off, and if damage to your hearing does occur (not always the case) then immediately go on a course of either oral or intratympanic corticosteroids to minimize any damage to your hearing. They can help tremendously in limiting any further damage to your hearing when used immediately at the onset of damage.

Anyway, don't stress too much! I've been at that point myself where I was worrying about every single possible exposure that I could ever possibly encounter and would waste a lot of time worrying about nothing.

 

[Bill Bauer]

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...bag-deploying-is-160-db-what-can-one-do.21862

 

[Sean]

I never thought about air bag causing further damage.
I can't believe we have to worry about this now !.has any one here been in a air accident and air bags were deployed ?

 

[TuneOut]

I never thought about air bag causing further damage.
I can't believe we have to worry about this now !.has any one here been in a air accident and air bags were deployed ?

Yes. A stormy night, almost three years ago. I drove my old infiniti straight into a wood telephone pole. It was loud - the crash and the airbag! Car was totalled. Ears were ringing worse. But I was able to walk away...

 

[Sean]

Yes. A stormy night, almost three years ago. I drove my old infiniti straight into a wood telephone pole. It was loud - the crash and the airbag! Car was totalled. Ears were ringing worse. But I was able to walk away...

did Tinnitus subside after spike ?

 

[TuneOut]

did Tinnitus subside after spike ?

It did go down. I was mostly relieved that *I* wasn't totalled. I remember this strong sulfur smell from the airbag and my ears ringing loudly immediately after impact. Then I got out and was in shock, walking around all dazed and confused (more than usual.) I'm actually surprised now that it didn't make my ears a lot worse. I was stressed out and distracted while driving. That's what caused the crash.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I never thought about air bag causing further damage.
I can't believe we have to worry about this now !.has any one here been in a air accident and air bags were deployed ?

@Foncky had a small child pop a balloon in the car, near his ear. I believe he ended up with a permanent spike...

 

[fishbone]

Air bags can be nasty , but they can also save a life. I total my car on a rainy night over 20 years ago. The car was totaled. The air bag messed up my face for a good 2-3 months, but it saved my life.

 

[Bobbie7]

I have a fear of getting into an accident and the airbags going off (I've read the sound of airbags going off is about 160 db.)

I would NEVER ever think of disabling the airbags in my car. If ever in a bad accident (heaven forbid) ... and the airbags deployed, I'd rather be alive with a bit more severe tinnitus than be dead and have none!

My advice @butterfly75 is to stop concentrating on the thought of a possible accident, be a careful and good driver, try to relax and enjoy your driving experience once you get your license and don't dwell on what may happen. Life is filled with the unknown and unexpected but we cannot be ruled by our fears (even if they seem reasonable) or these will paralyze us.

 

[butterfly75]

I would NEVER ever think of disabling the airbags in my car. If ever in a bad accident (heaven forbid) ... and the airbags deployed, I'd rather be alive with a bit more severe tinnitus than be dead and have none!

My advice @butterfly75 is to stop concentrating on the thought of a possible accident, be a careful and good driver, try to relax and enjoy your driving experience once you get your license and don't dwell on what may happen. Life is filled with the unknown and unexpected but we cannot be ruled by our fears (even if they seem reasonable) or these will paralyze us.

I can't disable the airbags in the car anyways because my dad says it's too dangerous and we won't be insured which is understandable, but I still wish I could have a car of my own without airbags, so I wouldn't be endangering anyone else in the car.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I'd rather be alive with a bit more severe tinnitus than be dead and have none!

I feel the opposite way.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I can't disable the airbags in the car anyways because my dad says it's too dangerous and we won't be insured which is understandable, but I still wish I could have a car of my own without airbags, so I wouldn't be endangering anyone else in the car.

There must be cars from 1980s/1990s out there...

 

[Sean]

@Foncky had a small child pop a balloon in the car, near his ear. I believe he ended up with a permanent spike...

@Bill Bauer ..really ? I thought some thing like this would cause temporary spike or may be spike for 2-3 months max .

 

[butterfly75]

I feel the opposite way.

I feel the same way, really. My fear of getting into an accident and T getting louder is greater than my fear of dying.

 

[Bill Bauer]

@Bill Bauer ..really ? I thought some thing like this would cause temporary spike or may be spike for 2-3 months max .

At least one person here got a severe permanent spike after a child popped a balloon in the car he was driving. An airbag involves explosives going off - it must be more than 10 times (possibly a lot more) louder than just a popping balloon.

 

[Sean]

At least one person here got a severe permanent spike after a child popped a balloon in the car he was driving. An airbag involves explosives going off - it must be more than 10 times (possibly a lot more) louder than just a popping balloon.

I agree ..that would fry my ears !!160 dB is louder than a shot gun !

 

[Bill Bauer]

I feel the same way, really. My fear of getting into an accident and T getting louder is greater than my fear of dying.

The only problem with disabling airbags or driving a car that has no airbags is the possibility of one surviving the accident, but ending up disabled. Car crashes are also loud (so could lead to a possibly permanent spike?), although probably less loud than an airbag going off...

 

[butterfly75]

The only problem with disabling airbags or driving a car that has no airbags is the possibility of one surviving the accident, but ending up disabled. Car crashes are also loud (so could lead to a possibly permanent spike?), although probably less loud than an airbag going off...

Yeah, I agree. If I could convince my parents to buy me a car without airbags I wouldn't let anyone drive or sit in the front seats with me. I wouldn't want to endanger anyone else's life. But I don't think I have a choice but to drive in a car with airbags.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I have a fear of getting into an accident and the airbags going off (I've read the sound of airbags going off is about 160 db.) I'm going to get my license soon, but I still get anxiety thinking about being involved in a crash and tinnitus getting louder.

Unfortunately this can be the downside of reading too much information on tinnitus and noise exposure and listening to people that are obsessed with using ear protection to the point of becoming paranoid about sound. When will people realize over protecting the ears makes the auditory system more sensitive to sound. I used to counsel someone that had hyperacusis and was afraid to leave her house as the slightest sound from the environment made her panic. It got so bad she couldn't tolerate the sound of the: microwave, fridge, washing machine or dishwasher. Even the sound of rain falling on the conservatory glass roof caused her discomfort. Thankfully she has improved but it was massive problem.

My advice is to concentrate on passing your driving test and forget about airbags because they are a life saving device and there for a good reason. Drive safely and I wish you many years of enjoyable driving. My car has ten airbags and I would never disable them.

Michael

 

[butterfly75]

I agree ..that would fry my ears !!160 dB is louder than a shot gun !

Yeah, that's what worries me as well. 160 db is as loud as a shotgun. I understand why it has to be so loud though. I think explosives have to be involved somehow for the airbags to release in an instant. I just wish I could have a car without them just for myself so no one else's life in the car with me would be endangered.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Yeah, that's what worries me as well. 160 db is as loud as a shotgun.

Please click on the link below and read my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it. https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

Michael

 

[Sean]

Does any one wear ear plugs while driving ?

 

[Bobby B]

Disabling airbags is very easy and one option to consider, but only if you have already substantial inner ear damage - where such 160db blast may have a much greater impact in life quality compared to someone with good ears.

I think the OP has a case of "anxiety/depression" T more than actual inner ear damage - based on some the posts

The only insurance that will be affected is the one covering medical expenses for the occupants.

You can also specify the car has no airbags when contracting such insurance

Or buy a used older car without airbags.

According to studies the percentage of accidents where bags saved lives vs only seat belts is only about 10 percent so the most important thing is to wear the belt and drive very safely.

Even without bags, a car crash alone can be 140 Db .

 

[Bill Bauer]

Does any one wear ear plugs while driving ?

I wear Peltor muffs. When I drive on the highway, I wear Bose noise cancelling headphones. I doubt those things will offer much protection against an airbag. In fact, noise cancelling headphones might actually make things worse.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Even without bags, a car crash alone can be 140 Db .

It will not be right by your ear.

Disabling airbags is very easy and one option to consider

Disable the fuses corresponding to their sensors, right? Or is there anything else one can do? Otherwise, it sounds like something that would be difficult to do...

 

[GregCA]

I wear Peltor muffs. When I drive on the highway, I wear Bose noise cancelling headphones. I doubt those things will offer much protection against an airbag. In fact, noise cancelling headphones might actually make things worse.

Why?

 

[Bill Bauer]

Why?

I decided that, for now, I will wear ear protection whenever I am outside of my home. When I am in the car, I am concerned about ambulance sirens, trucks and motorcycles accelerating, cars using their horns, etc.

I live in at the top of a tall hill. I used to wear earplugs, but I noticed that whenever I go up the hill to get home, I would get a full ear sensation. Ever since I began wearing Peltor muffs, full ear sensation is no longer as big of a problem after I get up that hill. I guess this must have something to do with pressure equalization.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Oh, now I see that you were asking a question about noise cancelling headphones making things worse. The way they work by producing a wave to sound the original wave. I am worried that they were not made to counter short-duration sounds like the sound of an airbag deploying. Those headphones were made for long-duration, constant noises. They might produce the wave to counter the sound of deployment, but that the noise might not offset the original noise, but amplify it instead. This is just my uneducated guess as to what might happen. Hopefully I am wrong. It would be good to contact Bose and ask whether one ought to be concerned about stuff like that.

 

[GregCA]

Oh, now I see that you were asking a question about noise cancelling headphones making things worse. The way they work by producing a wave to sound the original wave. I am worried that they were not made to counter short-duration sounds like the sound of an airbag deploying. Those headphones were made for long-duration, constant noises. They might produce the wave to counter the sound of deployment, but that the noise might not offset the original noise, but amplify it instead. This is just my uneducated guess as to what might happen. Hopefully I am wrong. It would be good to contact Bose and ask whether one ought to be concerned about stuff like that.

Oh I see. I was asking because I'm fairly familiar with how they work, and was curious why you would state that. I'm not too worried about their sound output: what I've seen them do (I have the Bose QC15) when they have trouble with a signal is simply "give up" and produce nothing for a fraction of a second. It happens for me every once in a while during take off.