A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveals that side airbags that provide head protection in serious crashes significantly reduce deaths, especially when cars are struck by bigger SUVs and pickups.
In 2004, 2.7 million passenger vehicles were involved in side-impact crashes and more than 9,000 people were killed, according to police reports cited by the researchers. Reportedly, side airbags that protect the torso reduced deaths by 26 percent in those collisions. The same study also found that deaths declined by an estimated 37 percent when the vehicle was also equipped with side airbags that protect the head.
A fairly new safety feature, side airbags are nevertheless found in about 80 percent of new cars and SUVs as standard or optional equipment. However, less than half of all pickups offer them.
"Once every passenger vehicle on the road has side airbags that include head protection for the front-seat occupants, we can save as many as 2,000 lives per year," said Anne McCartt, research vice president of the IIHS.
With growing concerns among safety advocates and the general public, automakers from all over the world agreed three years ago to equip each of their vehicles with head protecting side airbags as a standard feature by 2009. Hopefully, the recent findings by the IIHS will accelerate their efforts.
In 2004, 2.7 million passenger vehicles were involved in side-impact crashes and more than 9,000 people were killed, according to police reports cited by the researchers. Reportedly, side airbags that protect the torso reduced deaths by 26 percent in those collisions. The same study also found that deaths declined by an estimated 37 percent when the vehicle was also equipped with side airbags that protect the head.
A fairly new safety feature, side airbags are nevertheless found in about 80 percent of new cars and SUVs as standard or optional equipment. However, less than half of all pickups offer them.
"Once every passenger vehicle on the road has side airbags that include head protection for the front-seat occupants, we can save as many as 2,000 lives per year," said Anne McCartt, research vice president of the IIHS.
With growing concerns among safety advocates and the general public, automakers from all over the world agreed three years ago to equip each of their vehicles with head protecting side airbags as a standard feature by 2009. Hopefully, the recent findings by the IIHS will accelerate their efforts.