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New Airbag Rule on the Way

Feds set to require side airbags, newspaper reports

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

August 23, 2007

The rule will cause automakers to have side airbags that cover more area and automakers also are likely to make engineering changes to the side of a car or truck, including stronger roof rails, rocker panels and pillars to absorb more crash energy.

The NHTSA regulation has been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget and is scheduled to be released by September 28.

In 2003, automakers voluntarily agreed to install side airbags in all vehicles by September 1, 2009 and in 50 percent of vehicles by September 1, 2007. It is unclear what impact the new federal regulation will have on that voluntary commitment.

Side-impact crashes are the second most common fatal type after frontal crashes, killing 9,200 people in 2005, the last year for which accurate statistics are available.

The percentage of fatalities caused by side-impact crashes is on the rise however, up from 31 percent in 1981 to 49 percent in 2005.

NHTSA has said the side airbag rule would cost automakers $208 per vehicle, or between $1.6 billion to $3.6 billion annually.

Congress first ordered NHTSA to look at side impact crashes in 1996.

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