Most of the adults who were killed by air bags were not properly restrained. Eighteen of the 35 drivers, and 2 of the 3 passengers, were totally unbelted. Two of the drivers who were belted had medical conditions which caused them to slump over the steering wheel immediately before the crash. A few of the drivers did not use their ... Read More »

Among the biggest news stories of the 90s have been reports of airbags killing children and small adults. In true 90s fashion, the media hastened to focus on the drama of “death-by-airbag” and not on the actual facts surrounding the incidents. As of September 1, 1998, there have been 113 confirmed airbag deaths. This number dates back to 1993 when ... Read More »

First, move the seat back and buckle up — every time, every trip. The lap belt needs to fit over your hips, not your abdomen, and the shoulder belt should lie on your chest and over your shoulder. Remove any slack from the belt. In a crash, seat belts stretch and slow down your movement toward the steering wheel or ... Read More »

To view individual manufacturer click on the link below. BMW CHRYSLER DODGE PLYMOUTH JEEP EAGLE FORD LINCOLN MERCURY GENERAL MOTORS HONDA ACURA ISUZU MAZDA MERCEDES SUZUKI NISSAN SUBARU TOYOTA BMW Vehicle Line Model Year Availability Status Z3 1998 (production date 10/97) TBD Return to manufacturer list CHRYSLER DODGE PLYMOUTH JEEP EAGLE Vehicle Line Model Year Availability Status Chrysler Cirrus 1995-1998 ... Read More »

Never place a rear-facing infant seat in the front seat if the air bag is turned on. Always secure a rear-facing seat in the back seat. Children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat. While almost all of the children killed by an air bag were 7 years old or younger, a few older children have been ... Read More »

Although most drivers have heard and are heeding airbag warnings, new research shows that roughly 175,000 babies are still being placed in the front seat, putting them at serious risk. A new survey of parents who have babies under age one reveals which parents are least likely to take the precautions of always properly restraining babies in rear-facing safety seats ... Read More »

Always wear seat belts. This reduces the distance that they can move forward during a crash. Move the seat toward the rear. The distance between a passenger’s chest and the dashboard where the air bag is stored is usually more than 10 inches, even with the passenger seat all the way forward. But more distance is safer. Read More »

Airbags save lives and should not be deactivated. There are very few exceptions to this rule. When you have a car with no back seat, children in their safety seats can be put in front with a deactivated bag. If the driver is unable to sit 10″ or more away from the steering wheel, the airbag can be deactivated but ... Read More »

Since the risk zone for driver air bags is the first 2-3 inches of inflation, placing yourself 10 inches from your driver air bag provides you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you now sit less than 10 inches away, you can change your driving ... Read More »

An informal survey of auto repair facilities by AAA reveals that nearly two-thirds of shops currently won’t install air-bag on-off switches because of concerns about potential liability. In a survey of 700 new car dealerships and other repair facilities in 29 states, only 16 percent of shops said they plan on installing switches for motorists who have authorization from the ... Read More »