Side Curtain Airbag Presence Increased

SaferAutomobiles.com has consistently discussed the benefits associated with side curtain airbags. There is more information regarding side-curtain airbags here and here. Literature, testing, and industry materials indicate that side-curtain airbags protect people in side-impact collisions and, when coupled with rollover sensors, can be very effective in preventing someone from being ejected in a rollover scenario. Now, these safety features will be much more common on new vehicles. According to the Detroit News:

Nearly all 2010 model passenger cars and light trucks starting to roll into dealerships will have side airbags under a six-year-old agreement.

The added safety feature is the fulfillment of a 2003 voluntary agreement by automakers to improve vehicle compatibility in front- and side-impact crashes. General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Chrysler Group LLC, Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Hyundai Corp., Isuzu, Kia, Mazda, Daimler AG, Mitsubishi, Nissan Motor Co, Subaru, Suzuki, BMW AG, and Volkswagen AG signed onto the pact.

The agreement required vehicles in the 2010 model year, which starts Sept. 1, to have head-protecting side airbags. It does not apply to fleet sales, including vehicles sold to rental car companies.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires automakers to install side curtain and side torso airbags by the 2013 model year. It goes beyond what automakers pledged to do in 2003, when they voluntarily agreed to install side head airbags, but not side torso bags.

The 291-page regulation will save more than 300 lives per year and 260 serious injuries per year — a smaller estimate than when NHTSA initially proposed upgrading the standard in 2004. That’s because by 2013 all vehicles will be required to have anti-rollover technology, called electronic stability control.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires automakers to install side curtain and side torso airbags by the 2013 model year. It goes beyond what automakers pledged to do in 2003, when they voluntarily agreed to install side head airbags, but not side torso bags.

The 291-page regulation will save more than 300 lives per year and 260 serious injuries per year — a smaller estimate than when NHTSA initially proposed upgrading the standard in 2004. That’s because by 2013 all vehicles will be required to have anti-rollover technology, called electronic stability control.

The article goes on to state that this voluntary agreement is still not as stringent as NHTSA will require in 2013.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires automakers to install side curtain and side torso airbags by the 2013 model year. It goes beyond what automakers pledged to do in 2003, when they voluntarily agreed to install side head airbags, but not side torso bags.

The 291-page regulation will save more than 300 lives per year and 260 serious injuries per year — a smaller estimate than when NHTSA initially proposed upgrading the standard in 2004. That’s because by 2013 all vehicles will be required to have anti-rollover technology, called electronic stability control.

These changes will save the lives of many people. The industry’s voluntary agreement is a good start to increasing automotive safety. NHTSA’s 2013 changes will take that start one step further and save the lives of many consumers.