WHAT YOU NEED NOW - CONTENT UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY -
November 30, 2004
FYI: Airbag Statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute
by HNN Staff
Arlington, Va. (HNN) – Deaths in frontal
crashes are reduced about 26 percent among drivers using safety belts
and about 32 percent among drivers without belts. Starting with the
1998 model year, airbags typically deploy with less force. Research
shows that, overall, drivers of these vehicles still are provided full
protection in frontal crashes. Driver death rates are estimated to be
6 percent lower in 1998 and 1999 model passenger vehicles, compared
with 1997 models.
Deaths in frontal crashes are reduced about 14 percent among right front passengers using their belts and about 23 percent among passengers without belts. However, deaths are about 34 percent higher than expected among child passengers younger than 10.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the combination of an airbag plus a lap/shoulder belt reduces the risk of serious head injury among drivers by 85 percent compared with a 60 percent reduction for belts alone.
Since 1990, 250 deaths reportedly have been caused by airbags inflating in low severity crashes, most of them in older model vehicles. These deaths include 86 drivers, 11 adult passengers, 130 children, and 23 infants.
Of the 86 drivers killed by airbags, (64 females, 22 males), 54 are believed to have been unbelted, 25 were belted, and 4 misused their seatbelts. Two of the belted drivers were unconscious and slumped over their steering wheels. Belt use is unknown for the other three drivers.
Of the 11 adult passengers killed by passenger airbags, 9 were females (7 were older than 65 years-old) and 2 were males ages 57 and 85. Seven adult passengers are believed to have been unbelted or improperly belted, 4 were belted. Seven of the incidents involved pre-impact braking.
Of the 130 children killed by passenger airbags, 102 are believed to have been unrestrained; 23 children were improperly restrained and 5 were restrained. Twenty-two of the unrestrained children were seated in the lap of a front passenger and 3 were unrestrained and on the lap of the driver. Most of these crashes involved pre-impact braking.
Of the 23 infants killed by airbags, 12 are believed to be restrained in rear-facing infant seats; 4 in rear-facing restraints on laps; 5 were not properly secured in rear-facing restraints and 2 unknown if properly restrained. Sixteen cases involved pre-impact braking and in 1 case pre-impact braking is unknown.
