Head-Protecting Side Airbags Cut Death Rates

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a new study that shows cars and SUVs equipped with side airbags that protect the head and body can dramatically reduce the risk of death. For SUVs, deaths were cut by more than half; for cars, it was a 37% drop. The IIHS performed a study in 2003 that saw similar results but didn’t have enough data until now to include SUVs. This study reinforces the auto industry’s voluntary mandate to equip all vehicles with head-protecting side airbags by 2009.

These tests highlighted side-impact crashes, not rollovers, another major concern of safety advocates. Side-impact crashes are extremely dangerous because passengers are left more vulnerable without the crush-zones built into the front and rear of cars.

There’s a federal ruling in the works that would make these types of systems mandatory, but this may be one of those times when the industry moves faster than the government. Crash results are so important to car sales that automakers have been known to equip models with additional airbags just one year getting after a poor score. 

[Full IIHS Report]

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