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Statistics Show Airbags Getting Safer

February 6, 2006

• Feds Require Side Curtain Airbags by 2013 • New Study: Side and Roof Airbags Save Lives • Study: Aggressive Driving Negates Benefits of Safety Devices • Feds Probe Airbag Problems in Chrysler Minivans • Statistics Show Airbags Getting Safer • NHTSA Grants Airbag Exemption to SUV • Honda Puts Airbag on Motorcycle • Front Airbags Risky for Teens • Airbag Fraud Endangers Motorists • Airbag Switch-Off Results Mixed • Side Airbags Saving Lives, Study Finds --- • Special Report: Certified Dangerous: Airbags in Used Cars

Government safety statistics show a continuing drop in airbag-related deaths and injuries as technology and seat beat use improves.

Two children died in the U.S. last year as a result of injuries caused by airbags. No adults were killed according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That is an improvement over previous years.

While the reduced number of deaths and injuries can be attributed to better airbag technology, more people are wearing seat belts and more children and infants are being placed in the back seat.

1997 was the worst year for airbag-related deaths and injuries when 53 people died including 31 children. Airbags have killed 264 people since NHTSA became keeping a record of the deaths and injuries.

On the other hand, NHTSA estimates that airbags have saved almost 20,000 lives.

There is, however, a continuing problem with airbags failing to deploy in accidents. There are no reliable statistics on how many deaths and injuries have been cauased by such incidents.

Advanced frontal airbag technologies vary but most airbags are designed to deploy with varying strength depending on the size and location of vehicle occupants and whether those occupants are wearing seat belts. Sensors built into the passenger compartment determine the power of deployment.

NHTSA statistics show that newer cars and trucks have the best airbag records. No deaths were reported from the 2002 and 2003 model years. One death was reported from the 2004 model year.

Critics argue that even the newest airbags still are capable of inflicting injuries and ought to be a matter of choice and not government mandate.

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