How many inches of clearance should be allowed for side airbags?

The correct answer is based on ensuring the safe deployment of side airbags in vehicles. Side airbags are designed to deploy quickly and effectively during a collision, and they require a certain amount of clearance to function properly. Allowing for a clearance of 5 inches ensures that there is enough space for the airbags to inflate without obstruction from any nearby objects or structural components within the vehicle. This helps to maximize the safety provided by the airbags to the passengers during an accident.

In vehicle rescue operations, maintaining this specific clearance helps rescuers avoid interference with the airbag deployment system, which could lead to accidental activation or failure of the airbags during emergency extrication. Therefore, understanding and adhering to the required clearance distance for side airbags is crucial for both the safety of the rescued individuals and the responders.