Air Bag Statistics

04/11/97

The Associated Press reported the following statistics about air bags:

About one-third of all vehicles on the road have driver-side air bags (approximately 56 million cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans and pickup trucks). About 27 million vehicles also come with passenger-side air bags. Auto dealers sell about 1 million new vehicles with air bags monthly.

Government statistics estimate that air bags have saved the life of 1,828 people since 1986: 1,639 drivers and 189 passengers. 62 deaths have also been blamed on air bags: 38 children and infants and 24 adults--mostly shorter women. All the victims were involved in low-speed accidents they should have survived.

The Insurance industry estimates that 584,000 air bags were deployed during accidents last year, including 84,000 passenger-side air bags. Since 1986, the industry estimates that 1.4 million air bags have deployed.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel