According to estimations by the NHTSA, nearly 60 percent of those killed in serious side-impact crashes which involve at least one fatality die from brain related injuries.
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| The additional expense spent on increasing side-impact safety will no doubt be passed on to consumers. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
"We expect that this rigorous requirement will spur the introduction of a comprehensive array of technologies for side-impact protection," stated NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D. "The proposal represents a major step toward safer vehicles."
While lives would be saved, the flip side would be additional expense added to each new vehicle made, which would no doubt be passed on to the end consumer. Manufacturers would be forced to provide head protection at all outside seating positions, normally only featured on high-end vehicles, as standard equipment. Therefore less expensive cars would have to bear the additional cost increase, which compared as a percentage to the overall sale price could be dramatic.
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| All occupants of new vehicles will be given premium protection in side crashes for the first time if the NHTSA's proposal goes through. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
The NHTSA proposal would, however, make certain all occupants of new vehicles were given premium protection in side crashes for the first time. Side airbags would also enhance thorax and pelvis protection, reducing medical expenses.
There has been no word from insurance companies regarding reducing personal injury rates for owners of cars featuring side-impact airbags, and being that damage to the car and the cost to repair would actually increase due to exploding expensive airbag systems, cuts to insurance rates are unlikely.