1. Bags located in a steering wheel, dashboard, and/or side doors that automatically inflate to protect passengers from injury in an accident.
2. Devices which are parts of the passive safety system.

Airbags make it possible for passengers to stop more slowly than the car. When the airbag sensor detects a large decelaration, or a sudden stop, the bags inflate in less than a twentieth of a second, giving a much softer impact than the steering wheel would have on the driver.

An airbag will also help a passenger from being thrust forward with as much force as he/she would be without the airbag and so being thrown more slowly means less force and less harm to the person who is involved.