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Air Bag Industry Commits to New Side Bag Test Procedures

9 August 2000

Reports Automotive Occupant Restraint Council

    WASHINGTON - Manufacturers and suppliers of automotive air bags are 
developing future side impact air bags that will meet or exceed new test 
procedures intended to continue the safe operation of these latest safety devices 
that are rapidly becoming available in the nation's passenger vehicles.  The 
goal is to minimize the risk of serious injury even to an out-of-position 
occupants when a side air bag deploys.

    Automotive Occupant Restraint Council (AORC) President George Kirchoff
today said, "We are pleased to be an active member of the Side Impact Out-of-
Position Technical Working Group (TWG) that met for a year to develop side air
bag test procedures, that when used to develop side air bags, will minimize
risk of significant injury when they deploy.  AORC and its member companies
fully support the comprehensive voluntary procedures."

    The Technical Working Group, comprised of motor vehicle crash safety and
biomechanic experts, is sponsored by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers,
Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Automotive Occupant
Restraints Council and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

    Adhering to the test procedures manufacturers can reduce the already small
risk of injury to vehicle occupants who may be out-of-position when a side air
bag deploys during a crash.

    Side impact air bags provide an inflatable cushion between vehicle
occupants and the vehicle's side structure that is pushed into the occupant
during a crash with another vehicle or a stationary object such as a tree or
pole.

    Side impact bags have been extremely safe.  According the AORC no deaths
or serious injuries have occurred from side air bags.  The new test procedures
are designed to minimize the potential for risks from side air bag inflation.

    "The potential life saving benefits of side impact air bags are enormous.
In 1998 alone, side impact crashes claimed nearly 9,500 lives," said Kirchoff.

    "The work product produced by the TWG is significant and comprehensive,
however, this group of industry experts will monitor side air bag data and
reconvene in one year to analyze the new field data and determine if there is
need to modify the test procedures."

    The Automotive Occupant Restraints Council is an international  nonprofit
organization representing 50 member companies who develop, manufacture and
provide automotive occupant restraints systems, their components and
automotive seating.