The Fed Says OK To Softer Airbags

10/17/96

At least 12 children under age 12 have died since 1993 as a result of airbag deployment. The American Automobile Manufacturers Association has been successful in getting the NHTSA to approve the manufacture of "gentler" airbags. Under rule 208, companies are free to use less powerful inflators, use inflation rates that are different when people are belted and unbelted, and raise the minimum crash speed at which an airbag is set to deploy.

Are airbags working? One study shows that 1,136 more people would have been killed in car crashes from 1985 to 1995 had there been no airbags. At least half the people saved were not wearing a seatbelt.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel