« EDR RULE REPORTEDLY PROVOKING DISCONTENT | Main | FORD WANTS TO ‘LEAD’ IN SAFETY, EXEC SAYS »
October 31, 2006
HEAD-PROTECTING SIDE AIRBAGS SUPERIOR, IIHS FINDS
A new study by IIHS has found that side airbags that protect people's heads are reducing driver deaths in cars struck on the near (driver) side by an estimated 37 percent, while airbags that protect only the chest and abdomen but not the head are reducing deaths by 26 percent. “Head-protecting side airbags reduce driver fatality risk when cars are struck by SUVs and pickups, not just other cars. This is important because risks go up for occupants of cars struck in the side by the higher riding vehicles. In particular, the car occupants' heads are vulnerable to being struck,” IIHS said.
It said that the best estimates from the new analyses, based on the combined set of vehicles (1997-2004 models), show somewhat smaller benefits of head-protecting side airbags and larger benefits of torso airbags compared with a 2003 IIHS study. “The difference in effectiveness for these two airbag types was smaller when researchers looked at newer cars only (2001-04s during 2000-04).”
NHTSA does not require side airbags in new cars, but a growing number of manufacturers are providing them as options or standard equipment. “The airbags vary by design. Some descend from the vehicle roof to protect the heads of occupants in both front and back seats. Combination side airbags inflate from the vehicle seat or sometimes the door. These protect occupants' torsos and heads too,” IIHS said.
Posted by MVHAP at October 31, 2006 05:23 AM