What is the benefit of using air bags in vehicles?

Using air bags in vehicles offers a crucial benefit by providing cushioning during a collision. This safety feature is designed to deploy instantly upon impact, creating a protective barrier between the occupants and the hard surfaces of the vehicle’s interior. By absorbing some of the kinetic energy from the crash, air bags help to reduce the severity of injuries, potentially saving lives in severe accidents. This cushioning effect is especially important in frontal and side impacts, where the risk of injury is significantly heightened.

The other options address benefits that are unrelated to the function of air bags. For example, fuel efficiency and vehicle speed pertain to drivetrain and engine performance rather than safety equipment, while driver distractions involve external factors and technologies, but do not have any connection to the deployment or function of air bags.