The most important passive safety device fitted into modern cars is the driver airbag. The driver controls the car and the airbag prevents the driver from being seriously injured during an impact. It is this airbag system that has saved the life of many drivers who drive modern, newer model vehicles.
 
The driver airbag is located within the steering wheel. This allows the system to protect the face and hands of the driver once airbag deployment has been activated. The sensor system "tells" the airbag when to deploy during an impact. The airbag also protects the driver from any glass that may shatter if the windshield is broken. While the airbag is there to protect the driver, there have been times in which an injury has occurred from the airbag itself. This happens most often because the driver is positioned too close to the steering wheel of the vehicle.

Several studies have been conducted on the importance of the airbag module. A medical institute study showed that drivers with airbags were less likely to die in an accident than drivers without airbags fitted into their cars. This conclusion was regardless of whether the driver wore or did not wear a seatbelt. Male drivers, according to this study, benefited more by the deployment of airbags than women. While seatbelts reduced the likelihood of a fatal accident for drivers by 65%, airbags reduced the possibility only by 8%. The conclusion was that drivers who are belted and driving cars fitted with a driver's airbag are most likely to survive an accident. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety came to the conclusion that women drivers benefited more by deployment of airbags in an accident than men. Car and truck air bags saved drivers even when they were not belted. Both studies came to the conclusion that airbags worked in conjunction with seat belts to prevent airbag injury during an impact.

Before the concept of air bag safety devices was thought of, many individuals lost their lives in vehicle accidents because adequate protection was not available. Driver airbag devices have saved many lives over the years and individual injuries have been far less severe. The airbag safety industry is constantly thinking up new ideas and ways to make these types of devices safer, which will undoubtedly save many lives in the years to come.