<VV> Hand position on steering wheel & air bags

[Bill & Dana Young]

Recent observation regarding airbags and seat belts:
 I recently assisted a neighboring department at a fatal collision scene. What I saw when I rolled up was a European sports car off to the right side of the road with minimal to moderate damage. Saw a newer sedan in the center of the road with a totaled (and I mean totaled) front end. I was told a husband and wife were already removed from the scene from the sedan and I felt terrible because I figured they had to be dead or critically injured from the impact. Saw a large pool of blood in the road and saw a dead male approx. 35-40 yoa  in the road in another pool of blood. 
Turned out the elderly husband and wife had just been "shaken up" and went to the hospital to get checked "just in case". Front airbags and I believe side airbags had been deployed.
The dead guy in the street was ejected from the sports car as was his similar age friend, also dead, who was airlifted to try to save him. Both were ejected from the passenger side door when it flew open on impact.  Neither had seatbelts on, no airbags deployed (if it even had any). The interior/passenger compartment of the car was intact. 

We are instructed to drive with hands at 3 & 9 position and our Crown Vics have airbags. Try this and other hand positions in your driveway as an experiment and go lock to lock. I find my hands don't get "tangled up" in this position. I had a couple occasions where I had to make very quick maneuvers and believe this hand position helped save my ass. 

Of course just having lap belts won't stop me from driving my 65 Corsa, but I can't wait until I can afford a new car for my wife with all those wonderful airbags.

Sorry for any morbidness......but seatbelts and airbags can save lives and minimize injuries. Those guys more than likely would not have died had they worn seatbelts. Not a preacher, just an advocate.....
Bill