'Safe Car of the Millennium' Award Presented to BMW
19 June 1999
Head Protection System Hailed as Major Achievement
QUEBEC CITY, Quebec -- BMW was presented today with the "Safe Car of the
Millennium" award by the International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) in
recognition of the company's Head Protection System (HPS) -- a safety
engineering advance that can help reduce the risk of brain injury in the event
of a severe side impact. This is the first ever award given by the IBIA to
recognize an automobile manufacturer's contribution to the prevention of head
injuries.
"As motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of brain injury worldwide,
BMW is to be applauded for their achievement in making automobiles safer,"
explains George A. Zitnay, PhD, President and CEO of the International Brain
Injury Association. "BMW approached the problem of brain injuries resulting
from automobile crashes with the idea that injury could be prevented -- not
just minimized. As a result, they designed an innovative restraining system
that surpasses current head injury restraint standards in the U.S. IBIA
encourages other industries and manufacturers to follow the example set by
BMW."
In case of a side-impact collision, the Head Protection System (HPS) --
which is integrated in the A-pillar and roofline -- supplements the effect of
the side airbags that are integrated in the door panels. Only this
combination of cushioning devices helps to reduce head rotation and ensure a
head-neck-spine alignment needed to help prevent serious head or spinal
injuries.
The HPS helps reduce risks in three major accident scenarios:
-- It helps protect the head from contacting outside objects that are
intruding into the car (poles, trees, etc.)
-- It helps prevent passengers from being thrown out of the car,
especially in rollover scenarios, and
-- It helps keep the head, neck, and spine aligned and reduce head
rotation
BMW introduced the world's first Head Protection System for automobiles,
an inflatable tubular device that deploys diagonally across the front side
window, in 1997. Today, all BMW sedans and new 3 Series coupes come standard
with this innovative safety device.
BMW has a long history in safety-related innovations (please see enclosed
BMW safety innovation timeline). The HPS is part of the BMW F.I.R.S.T. (Fully
Integrated Road Safety Technology) philosophy that is made up of multiple
active and passive safety modules.
Founded in 1993, the International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) is
dedicated to providing international leadership for individuals and
organizations throughout the world concerned with advancing opportunities and
successes for people with brain injuries. Accordingly, IBIA supports and
coordinates training of physicians, clinicians, educators, and other
professionals, as well as family advocates. A non-profit organization, IBIA
sponsors educational seminars, biennial world congresses, networking
opportunities, research activities, and supports international public policy
initiatives. IBIA actively promotes and communicates new technologies and
advancements related to brain injury. Furthering its commitment to advance
the understanding of brain injuries, IBIA merged with the International
Association for the Study of Traumatic Brain Injury (IASTBI) in 1998.
BMW entered the North American market in 1975. Since then, the company
has grown to include marketing, sales and financial services organizations in
the United States and Canada; a South Carolina manufacturing operation; a
design firm in California; and various other operations throughout the U.S.
and Canada. BMW is represented in North America through a network of more
than 375 automobile and 190 motorcycle retailers in the United States and
Canada. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the marque's North American headquarters is
located in Woodcliff Lake, N.J.
HPS Quick facts:
-- The HPS is different in a number of ways from frontal air bags. Front
air bags inflate in approximately 40 milliseconds; the HPS needs less
than 20 milliseconds (0.020 seconds) for this task. Because there is
no crumple zone on the side of the car as there is in the front,
deployment reaction has to be much faster.
-- Front air bags stay inflated for only about 150 milliseconds, while
the HPS stays inflated for at least 7 seconds, an important factor in
helping to prevent ejection in rollover accidents.
-- The material used for the HPS has to withstand forces of up to
331 pounds and must also be able to remain in perfect condition in a
hostile environment of heat up to 194 degrees Fahrenheit and
temperatures below -31 degrees Fahrenheit for the estimated lifetime
of a car, 15 years.
-- The technology that made the HPS possible was originally developed to
protect military helicopter pilots.
-- With less sophisticated combination head/thorax bags, the person's
head pushes and compresses the bag, while the HPS restrains a person's
head and becomes a structural member of the vehicle.
-- When inflated, the HPS forms a hollow, flexible, essentially airtight
tube about 4 feet long and about 5 inches in diameter.
-- The innovation of the HPS made new test procedures necessary. The
so-called "pole test" was developed in cooperation between the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and BMW AG. In
this test, a car collides with a 10-inch pole at a speed of 18 mph.
-- 50% of occupants in severe side impacts are injured; of these, 43%
sustain head injuries. (NHTSA)
BMW Safety Timeline
1999
Dual Stage Deployment for front airbags
The system deploys the front airbags depending on crash severity: As
gentle as possible, as powerful as necessary. Introduced in March 1999 with
the 5 and 7 Series.
1998
Navigation/Mayday System
First in the market to offer automated distress call system with
navigation system. A touch of a button transmits the location of the vehicle
and automatically opens up a direct line to a live person at BMW's Roadside
Assistance Group for emergency response.
1997
Head Protection System
Entirely concealed behind the headliner, above the front doors and within
the A-pillar, the Head Protection System offers increased head protection in
side impacts. When deployed, the Head Protection System inflates to become a
structural part of the car by forming a straight line diagonally across the
side window. When inflated, each unit forms a hollow, flexible, essentially
airtight tube about 5 feet long and 5.1 inches in diameter. Introduced with
the 1998 7 Series models it now comes standard also on all 5 Series as well as
on the 3 Series sedans and coupes.
Rear side airbags
In extension of ASAP (Advanced Side Airbag Protection) BMW offers optional
side impact protection for the rear passengers. First available with the 1998
7 Series they are now available as an option on all 5 and 7 Series as well as
the new 3 Series sedans and coupes.
Battery safety terminal
The battery safety terminal (BST) will avoid short circuiting of the high
amperage starter circuit in an event of a collision. BST is actuated by the
air bag control unit and uses a pyrotechnical charge to separate the starter
cable from the battery in a crash.
1996
Driver and passenger side airbags
BMW's ASAP (Advanced Side Airbag Protection) system employs a large-area
inflatable bag in each front door. Front side airbags protect the thorax in
side impacts. Introduced with the 1995 model year 7 Series, side airbags are
now standard on all BMW models.
1994
Dual Threshold Deployment of front airbags
First in the United States to offer an "intelligent" safety system, the
dual-threshold deployment system. When the safety belt is used, the airbag
will not deploy at a lower crash severity, but only at the higher crash
severity, where airbags are more effective. The "intelligent" safety system
also knows if the passenger seat is occupied; if not, its airbag will not
deploy, saving repair and insurance costs.
Passenger seat occupancy recognition
A sensor in the passenger seat recognizes if the seat is occupied or not.
If the seat is not occupied, the airbag won't go off in the event of a
collision, thus saving the expense of unnecessary replacement.
Interlocking door anchoring system
In each of the four doors is a diagonal aluminum reinforcement bar. The
rear end of this bar is anchored to a hook-like member that, in the event of a
serious side impact, "grabs" the body pillar. Thus the front door is "hooked
into" the B-pillar, the rear door into the body's rear quarter -- helping hold
the body side together as a unit for significantly increased strength. The
system is designed so that after most impacts, elastic "snap-back" of the
system releases the hooks and the doors can be opened. First introduced on
the 1995 model year 7 Series it now comes standard with all BMW sedans and the
new 3 Series coupes.
1992
Front passenger airbag
The passenger's airbag is positioned in the top of the instrument panel.
It has dual gas generators and inflates to more than twice the volume of the
driver's airbag to provide restraint in the event of a frontal collision.
1990
Automatic front seat belt tensioners
This system automatically tightens the front belts in a collision, further
improving the restraint of occupants. It is integrated into the belt latches,
mounted to the inboard side of each front seat. Upon impact the system pulls
the latch downward to tighten both the shoulder and lap belt portions
directly.
1989
Seat integrated belt system (SBS)
By anchoring the entire belt system to the seat itself, SBS provides an
optimum, consistent belt run. The shoulder belt, being anchored in a
locking/clamping reel just behind the shoulder, is significantly shorter than
one anchored to the lower body or B-pillar, so there's less belt stretch when
the belt is restraining the occupant. Thus there is no need for a belt
tensioner.
1986
Antilock braking system (ABS)
BMW was the first manufacturer in the U.S. to offer ABS across the model
line in 1986. The system minimizes wheel lock-up which can occur in inclement
weather (like rain, ice or snow) but can also occur on a dry road. No matter
how hard the driver brakes, the wheels do not lock up and skid. So, whether
driving in a curve or straight, rough or smooth road, slick or dry -- the
driver can safely steer the car under braking, potentially avoiding an
accident.
1985
Driver's side front airbag
Introduced the driver's airbag, which in a severe frontal impact inflates
in less than 40 milliseconds and helps prevent the driver from being thrown
against the steering wheel and dash. The airbag is a supplement to the use of
the safety belt, the primary restraint system in the vehicle.
Impact Sensor
In the event of a collision, the impact sensor automatically unlocks the
doors and turns on the four-way flashers and interior lights to facilitate
rescue of the occupants.
Adjustable seat belt anchoring points
Front seat belt anchoring points are adjustable for height, either
manually or automatically so that regardless of the size of the occupant, the
ideal belt positioning can be established.