Miata Mailing List: September 1996, Message #0116
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   From: Jason Powell 

Subject: Air Bag data from NHTSA

   Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 17:17:52 -0500



Although my search has only yet begun, here's the latest data I've found.

This data supports my previous posts.

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Air Bags:=20



          Air bags inflate instantly in frontal crashes to prevent occupants

from hitting the dashboard, steering wheel or

          windshield at speeds as low as 15 mph. Air bags do not eliminate

the need for safety belts, and offer no

          protection in rollovers, rear, or side impacts.=20



                                          WARNING!



           While air bags have saved 1500 lives over the years, they can be

deadly for children. Kids are

           always safest in the back seat. If kids ride up front:=20



                Never use a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat

of a vehicle with a passenger-side

                air bag.=20



                Always buckle-up your child and move the vehicle seat as far

away from the air bag as

                possible. Unbelted kids can be killed or injured by an air=

 bag.=20

<>

What's the Problem with Airbags?



Most new cars have air bags for front-seat passengers. When used with

lap/shoulder belts, air bags work very well to protect

older children and adults who ride facing the front of the car. Air bags do

not work with rear-facing child seats (those used with

infants). Airbags could seriously injure or even kill an unbuckled child or

adult who is sitting too close to the air bag or who is

thrown toward the dash during emergency braking. In a crash, the air bag

inflates very quickly. It could hit anything close to the

dashboard with enough force to cause severe injuries or even death. Because

the back of a rear-facing child seat sits very close

to the dashboard, the seat could be struck with enough force to cause

serious, or even fatal injuries to a baby. Even older

childen (who have outgrown child seats) are at risk from a deploying air

bag, if they are not properly restrained with a

lap/shoulder belt.=20



What Should I Do?



The rear seat is the safest place for children of any age to ride. An infant

in a rear-facing child seat must ride in the back seat if

your vehicle has a passenger side air bag (babies under 1 year and 20 pounds

should always ride in a rear-facing seat). Make

sure that everyone in the front seat is properly buckled up and seated as

far back from the air bags as is reasonably possible.

Make sure that all young children are properly secured in a child safety

seat and older children by a lap/shoulder belt. Know

how to properly install your child seat in the vehicle. Read both the

owner=92s manual for the vehicle and the instructions for your

child safety seat.=20



Where Can I Get More Information?



Call NHTSA=92s toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1.800.424.9393.=20



Written information and =93tip sheets=94 are available by writing to:=20



Child Safety Seats=20

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration=20

400 7th Street S.W. NTS-13=20

Washington, DC 20590.=20

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If you're interested in this and other data,  the NHTSA has a website full

of info:  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/



My search continues...

*********************

Jason Powell

Red 96 Pop w/AC...FIZZX 1

team totally stock

------------------------------------

Physics Dept

ZionBenton HS

Kenosha, WI

"...the truth the symbol of a dove, will unmask the maker of your plans..."

King'sX - Out of the Silent Planet



Our homepage:   ftp://ftp.wi.net/users/fizzx/index.htm

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