Final answer:
The safest place for infants, children, and small adults in a vehicle with dual airbags is the back seat, to avoid the strong force of front airbag deployment. Airbags extend the time over which force acts during a crash, significantly reducing injury risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a vehicle equipped with dual airbags, the safest place for infants, children, and small adults is in the back seat. Airbags have been a mandatory safety feature in passenger vehicles in the United States since 1991 due to their ability to reduce the force on occupants during a crash. While airbags deploy upon impact to minimize serious injuries, their deployment force can be too strong for infants, children, and small adults, particularly if they are seated in the front. Thus, these individuals are recommended to be placed in the back seat, secured with seat belts or in appropriate child safety seats, where there is less risk from airbag deployment.
The significance of airbags comes from how they allow the net force on the occupants in a car to act over a longer time when there is a sudden stop. This is due to the cushioning effect they provide, which, by extending the duration of force, reduces its intensity as applied to the car occupants. Seat belts are also an integral part of this safety system by keeping passengers in their seats and working in conjunction with airbags to provide maximum protection.