Video: Airbags Deploy on Drifting Camaro

40 years ago, about the only safety device mandated by the government on most cars was a seatbelt. These days though, there is a veritable Bible on mandated safety equipment, from anti-roll over devices to airbags. And one airbag just isn’t enough anymore. There are airbags for your face, knees, and even your arms, designed to deploy the instant the car detects an imminent collision.

But even these complicated security devices don’t function right all the time. This video we found on YouTube shows a brand new Camaro drifting at Milan Dragway, moments before all of its airbags deployed with no warning.

httpv://youtu.be/TpL4VwhYSE8

The 2012 Chevy Camaro comes fully loaded with a trove of safety equipment. Standard features include anti-lock disc brakes, stability control, front-seat airbags and full curtain airbags around the windows. That’s a lot of safety, and complicated computing-type devices monitor everything from lateral acceleration to whether you’re about to flip over. The Camaro actually received five-star side impact and rollover crash test ratings, and four stars for front and rear crash tests, so it is actually a very safe car.

It is so safe, in fact, that the side airbags in this video deployed despite there being no indication that the 5th Gen, driven by Paul Beiswanger, was about to crash. But about 30 seconds into the video, as the Camaro whips its ass around for another go, the side airbags suddenly pop for no reason, burning the passenger’s right arm. It’s a small miracle that the driver was able to keep control of the car, though the bill for replacing the air bags won’t be cheap. It’s the first of this issue we’ve ever heard of, and could be attributed to the aggressive driving. Or GM might have an issue they need to work out. Either way, it makes for an entertaining video.