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Keep Air Bags Active for Safety, Says Automotive Occupant Restraints Council Chairman

18 November 1997

Keep Air Bags Active for Safety, Says Automotive Occupant Restraints Council Chairman

    LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 18 -- Air bags are credited by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with saving thousands
of lives.  Not using the proven safety devices would be wrong for a great
majority of motorists, says the Chairman of the Automotive Occupant Restraints
Council (AORC), an organization representing manufacturers and suppliers of
vehicle occupant restraint systems.
    Responding today to the U.S. Department of Transportation's announcement
allowing motorists, under certain circumstances, to purchase air bag cut off
switches, TRW Inc. Executive Vice President and Chairman of AORC, James S.
Remick said, "There are several simple actions motorists can take to retain
the lifesaving benefits of air bags and help minimize risks that may be posed
by the safety devices.  In fact, motorists should take these actions even if
their vehicles do not have air bags."
    "First," says Remick, "all drivers and all passengers, regardless of
seating position, must be properly buckled and small children and infants
secured in approved safety seats.  Safety belts continue to be the basic
occupant restraint system.
    "In vehicles equipped with air bags, the Council recommends that front
seats be adjusted rearward to always maintain a distance of at least 10 inches
from the chest to where the air bag is housed.
    "Thirdly, and this is very important, children 12 years of age and younger
should ride properly restrained in the back seat, and again, even in vehicles
that do not have air bags.  Studies show that in an accident this is the
safest place to be."
    Remick was pleased with NHTSA's reasoning to retain its current policy of
authorizing vehicle owners to deactivate air bags only on a case-by-case
basis.
    He commended the government for launching a national public/private
educational campaign to help motorists make informed decisions concerning air
bag cut off switches.
    AORC joined with auto manufacturers, national traffic safety and health
advocates stressing that turning off air bags would be negative for most
people, and the action is not necessary in most cases.
    Remick pointed out that for decades the Council has prominently supported
tough safety belt use laws.
    "Ideally, state safety belt use laws should cover all vehicles, all
seating positions and be of primary (standard) enforcement, with a fine of at
least $25 coupled with driver license points."
    Currently, no state safety belt use law totally contains the Council's
recommended provisions.  The lone jurisdiction with these stronger components
is the District of Columbia which recently strengthened its belt use law,"
Remick added.
    NHTSA estimates more than 3,000 lives will be saved annually when all
vehicles on the road have driver and passenger bags installed.  The
combination of safety belts and air bags makes surviving a head-on collision
15 percent more likely over someone not restrained.
    "Occupant restraint manufacturers are continuing to improve air bag
systems, including developing 'smart restraints' which sense and deploy
according to each occupant's weight, seating position and severity of the
crash," said Remick.

SOURCE  Automotive Occupant Restraints Council