Reductions in deaths in frontal crashes among right front passengers in vehicles equipped with passenger air bags

E. R. Braver, S. A. Ferguson, M. A. Greene and A. K. Lund
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Arlington, VA 22201, USA. iihs@hwysafety.org

CONTEXT: Virtually all new cars now are equipped with passenger air bags. Determining whether passenger air bags are saving lives is important, particularly because passenger air bags have caused some deaths among children and adults. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of passenger air bags in reducing the risk of death in frontal crashes for right front passengers. DESIGN: Air bags are designed to protect occupants in frontal crashes. Using Fatality Analysis Reporting System data for calendar years 1992 through 1995, the relative frequency of right front passenger deaths in frontal vs nonfrontal fatal crashes was compared for cars with dual air bags and for cars with driver-only air bags. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds of right front passengers dying in frontal compared with nonfrontal fatal crashes were computed for 1992 through 1995 model year cars with dual air bags and for cars with driver-only air bags. Percentage reductions in right front passenger deaths in dual air bag vehicles were estimated. RESULTS: Right front passenger fatalities were 18% lower than expected in frontal crashes of cars with dual air bags and 11% lower in all crashes. An estimated 73 fewer than expected right front passengers died in 1992 through 1995 model cars with dual air bags during 1992 through 1995. The risk of frontal crash death for right front passengers in cars with dual air bags was reduced 14% among those reported to be using belts and 23% among belt nonusers. Children younger than 10 years in cars with dual air bags had a 34% increased risk of dying in frontal crashes. CONCLUSIONS: Passenger air bags were associated with substantial reductions in fatalities among right front passengers in frontal crashes. However, more children are being killed than are being saved by air bags. Immediate countermeasures to reduce the dangers of air bags to children and adults are suggested.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Using Head-on Collisions to Compare Risk of Driver Death by Frontal Air Bag Generation: A Matched-Pair Cohort Study
Braver et al.
Am J Epidemiol 2008;167:546-552.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Changes in traffic crash mortality rates attributed to use of alcohol, or lack of a seat belt, air bag, motorcycle helmet, or bicycle helmet, United States, 1982-2001.
Cummings et al.
Inj. Prev. 2006;12:148-154.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Translational research in child and adolescent transportation safety.
Simons-Morton and Winston
Eval Health Prof 2006;29:33-64.
ABSTRACT  

Effects of Child Age and Body Size on Serious Injury From Passenger Air-Bag Presence in Motor Vehicle Crashes
Newgard and Lewis
Pediatrics 2005;115:1579-1585.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reversible acute myocardial injury following air bag deployment
Nagarajan et al.
Emerg. Med. J. 2005;22:382-383.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Injury Risk to Restrained Children Exposed to Deployed First- and Second-Generation Air Bags in Frontal Crashes
Arbogast et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005;159:342-346.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Risk Factors for Motor Vehicle Collision-Related Eye Injuries
McGwin and Owsley
Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:89-95.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Injuries caused by airbags: a review
Hutt and Wallis
Trauma 2004;6:271-278.
ABSTRACT  

Role of Environmental Interventions in Injury Control and Prevention
Peek-Asa and Zwerling
Epidemiol Rev 2003;25:77-89.
FULL TEXT  

Injuries associated with airbag deployment
Wallis and Greaves
Emerg. Med. J. 2002;19:490-493.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

RE: "MORTALITY REDUCTION WITH AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT USE IN HEAD-ON PASSENGER CAR COLLISIONS"
Cummings et al.
Am J Epidemiol 2001;154:387-389.
FULL TEXT  

Mortality Reduction with Air Bag and Seat Belt Use in Head-on Passenger Car Collisions
Crandall et al.
Am J Epidemiol 2001;153:219-224.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Orthopaedic Injuries in Children Secondary to Airbag Deployment
Mehlman et al.
JBJS 2000;82:895-895.
FULL TEXT  

Child seating position and restraint use in three states
Ferguson et al.
Inj. Prev. 2000;6:24-28.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Computer Crash Simulations in the Development of Child Occupant Safety Policies
Koplin Winston et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2000;154:276-280.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Effect of Passenger Airbags on Child Seating Behavior in Motor Vehicles
Wittenberg et al.
Pediatrics 1999;104:1247-1250.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pediatric Injury Control in 1999: Where Do We Go From Here?
Rivara
Pediatrics 1999;103:883-888.
FULL TEXT  

Dad, May I Have the Keys? Factors Influencing Which Vehicles Teenagers Drive
Rivara et al.
Pediatrics 1998;102:57e-57.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Seating positions and children's risk of dying in motor vehicle crashes
Braver et al.
Inj. Prev. 1998;4:181-187.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reducing Risks to Children in Vehicles With Passenger Airbags
Graham et al.
Pediatrics 1998;102:3e-3.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Air Bags: Are the Fears Justified?
JWatch Emergency Med. 1997;1997:23-23.
FULL TEXT