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A: Yes. They also take lives.

A: "Passenger air bags may be a hazard to unrestrained children and of little benefit to unrestrained adults." (Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, August 2002)

A: About half of the victims were adults. One victim was a properly belted, 12-year old boy in Minnesota. According to the government, he was old enough to ride up front...
Forty-year-old Amy Beth Kambury from Portland, OR was driving her 4-year-old daughter to school in 1995 when another vehicle crossed the center line and hit her Jeep Cherokee head-on. Kambury reportedly bled to death within several hours of the crash, because the air bag delivered a blow to her abdomen, tearing her inferior vena cava, a major vein that brings blood to the heart. Her daughter was sitting in the passenger seat, which had no air bag and she survived.

A: This is true for average adults, but not for many women under 5'2" tall. Also this measurement doesn't take into account any the pre-impact braking that occurs in over 70% of all accidents and which pushes occupants forward. Also at risk are those of any size who happened to be out of position (reaching for a dashboard control, opening the glovebox or tuning the radio, leaning forward to turn, checking a blind spot, etc.), AND those of any size whose hands and/or arms happened to be in the way of the airbag in any low speed (10 mph) impact.

A: Currently the Department of Transportation mandates air bags installed in cars sold in United States must be tested to protect an adult male in a head-on collision. However these air bags are designed to be the PRIMARY SAFETY DEVICE for an UNBELTED crash-test dummy. That makes them much too powerful for most Americans (73%) who always wear their seat belts.

A: While preventing some types of head injuries, air bags also cause routine injuries, such as forearm fractures, facial burns and lacerations, hearing damage (sometimes permanent), eyesight damage (sometimes permanent), spine and spinal cord injuries, ribcage fractures, aggravated asthma and heart conditions and others.

Consider just these two problems associated with air bags:

• - In a study that appeared in the Feb. 19 1999 issue of British Medical Journal, researchers say the sudden impact of an air bag hitting a vehicle passenger's face may cause hearing problems. Air bag inflation can create a sound pressure level of 150 to 170 decibels that lasts about 0.1 seconds. Researchers say hearing loss due to air bag inflation may be underreported because passengers in an accident are not likely to remember the noise of the air bag and are more likely to attribute injuries to the accident.
  
• - Several rescue workers around the country have been injured when airbags have deployed unexpectedly during extrications or rescue attempts. In fact, in 30 percent of all serious vehicle crashes, air bags do not deploy during the crash. What many people don't realize is that air bags can still deploy after a car has been involved in a crash and the engine is no longer running. In Ohio, two firefighters were literally blown out of a vehicle after both the driver and passenger-side airbags deployed in the middle of a rescue. This alarming incident was caught on videotape and is shown during the A.L.E.R.T. training session. It's a powerful example of what an accidental deployment could mean to both the rescuer and the victim.

A: How can you tell air bag saved her life? Since for most Americans seat belts are the primary restraining system, for them the air bags are much too powerful. Chances are it was her seat belt that saved her life, not the air bag. While you're only speculating about the benefit of air bags, their side effect is undeniable.

According to a study by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, published in the October 2000 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, injuries due to driver-side air bags ranged from cuts and bruises to fatalities. Injuries among male drivers increased when air bags deployed at speeds below 8 mph. But the likelihood of injury caused by an air bag among female drivers increased in all crashes below 32 mph, the study said.

• Why is a device that's known to injure or even kill some people - even if it's beneficial to other people - still on the market?
• How come the government is allowed to make a device that's known to injure or even kill some people mandatory?

A: The real benefit from airbags is in a high speed direct frontal accident, say 30 mph into a fixed barrier or about 60 mph into a vehicle of the same weight.  This type of accident is only a small percentage of all accidents.  Otherwise, front airbags are useless or net negative in side accidents, rollovers, rear-enders, and slower speed accidents (assuming you have belts on).  But, they deploy in many of these cases...

In an overwhelming majority of air bag deployments (3,697,693 out of 3,700,000 between 1986 and 1998), air bags had no effect on the survivability of the occupants one way or the other. The added cost of repairing air bag damage however made thousands of otherwise salvageable automobiles a total loss.
In other words, in 3,700,000 documented deployments since 1986, NHTSA estimated 3,625 lives were saved and admitted between 1990 and 1998, 122 lives were lost in otherwise minor (i.e. low speed) accidents. And 40 more fatalities are still under investigation, until the head of NHTSA signs off on them. To me and a growing number of other people, facts like these are simply UNACCEPTABLE.

A: First of all, flu shots are optional, which is not the case with frontal air bags. Beyond that, because of threat of air bags, American people are now expected to fundamentally modify their behavior in their own cars. No longer can parents sit next to their children; short people cannot sit in a comfortable position anymore; under the threat of potential injury and possible death, nobody should be leaning forward; and in cars with side air bags, children shouldn't rest their heads against the doors any longer. Why? Because it's estimated in the last 12 years air bags saved maybe 3500 - mostly unbelted - people.

A: At roughly $1,500 per car, air bags are a very inefficient way of saving lives. For instance, instead of air bags, investing the $1,500 per car into increasing seat belt compliance to 90% would prevent over 5,500 deaths - annually. Putting $1,500 into crash prevention, such as better training of drivers, would also save far more lives than air bags ever did. And for many individuals, investing $1,500 into better tires would be a safer choice than air bags.

Two Transport Canada studies were uncovered in September 2000 as part of a CBC Marketplace investigation into air bag safety. They show air bags reduce the risk of injury by just two percent for adults who wear seat belts. On the other hand, a car 200 pounds heavier than baseline gives you 9% greater safety in a crash, all by itself and another 200 pounds, another 9%.

A: 16 year old son Shawn Simpkins was driving his parents' 1998 Dakota pickup with his seat belt on when he had a one car accident that ended with an off-center right-front hit to a tree - probably at about 26 mph. The only mark on Shawn's body was the small air bag abrasion on his chin, where the air bag snapped his head back hard enough to break the brainstem. This was a Second Generation (20% to 35% depowered) bag but it was still fatal to Shawn. This should have been a fully-survivable accident, with only minor injuries as the result. Shawn should only have received bumps and bruises, except for the deadly air bag... NHTSA's Special Crash Investigations website lists his injuries as caused by the air bag - listing #163.

A: So far among others:

• 1.2 million 1994 - 1997 General Motors and Chrysler cars were involved in governmental 'air bag safety checks.'
• Almost a million 1994 - 1997 Chrysler Caravan and Plymouth Voyager vans have been recalled in June 1999 for air bag defects.
• WASHINGTON (3/00) - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Cadillac DeVilles, model years 1997 through 1999. Complaints have involved about 303,347 of the cars. When air bags deploy unexpectedly and without cause, the agency said, people in the car can be injured, and drivers can lose control. 32 people reported being hurt when side-impact air bags deployed without a collision. 253 complaints have been lodged about failures in the air bags' sensor systems that made the bags inadvertently open.
  SHREVEPORT, La. (November 3, 2000) - General Motors Corp. has been sued today by owners of the recalled 1998 and 1999 Cadillac Devilles, because the world's largest automaker doesn't have the replacement part needed to keep side air bags from deploying inadvertently.
• 4/26/00: General Motors Corp. today announced a recall of about 279,000 sport utility vehicles that failed a government air bag test, though the automaker insists there is no safety problem. The recall involves 1999 model year Chevrolet Tahoes, GMC Yukons and Cadillac Escalades.
• 10/01: WASHINGTON (AP) - The government has upgraded its investigation into 248,638 1994 and 1995 Nissan Altimas after 75 people said they were hurt by the force of a deploying air bag. Most suffered facial injuries, including 32 who had eye damage after the passenger-side air bag deployed in a crash. At least one person lost an eye.
• 200,000 air bags have been recalled for inadvertent deployment problems in 1995-96 Mazda 626 and MX6 models.
• NHTSA is investigating air bags in 104,000 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supremes. There have been four inadvertent deployments reported and two resulted in injuries. Three of the four deployments occured while the vehicle was just being started. One occurred at 55 mph without hitting any obstacle on the road.
• In July 1999, Subaru recalled 95,000 Impreza and Legacy sport-utility vehicles for removal of front tow hooks that can accidentally cause air bags to deploy if they come in sharp contact with curbs, dips, pot holes, railroad crossings or similar road hazards.
• Sun, 26 Nov 2000 - The NHTSA, in its latest monthly defect report, said it had opened a probe, or preliminary evaluation, into inadvertent side air bag deployment in an estimated 50,000 1999- and 2000-model Lincoln Continental cars.
• 39,000 1995 - 1997 Audi's have been recalled, because static electricity could explode air bags while standing still.
• June 1999: Saab announces a voluntary recall of approximately 26,000 model year 1992 through 1994 Saab 9000 cars for installation of a protective cover on the inflatable restraint electronic control module (air bag control).
• MONTVALE, N.J., Jan. 12, 2001/PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today announced that it has initiated a recall of about 16,255 model-year 1997 E-Class sedans manufactured between November 1996 and February 1997. The side airbags in these vehicles could deploy inadvertently because of a supplier quality problem in the airbag module.
• MONTVALE, N.J., Nov. 30, 1999 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today announced that it has initiated a recall of 1997 SL coupe/roadsters to replace driver's side airbag modules, affecting 4,400 vehicles. Exposure to high humidity conditions may result in corrosion that can cause the driver's front airbag to deploy unintentionally. Earlier, 6000 Mercedes-Benz cars equipped with the 'Zoom' and 'Baby-Safe' front car seats have been recalled, because the air bag may NOT be off, even if the system detected a child and the dash board light say the air bag is off. Additionally, cell phone use may interfere with the automatic air bag disconnection. So much for this 'smart' technology...
• 25 drivers of 1995 Mazda Miata's reported injuries when their air bags deployed for no apparent reason. One such driver suffered permanent brain damage.
• In 12/1998 an accident in which a baby sitting in a rear facing car seat mounted to the front seat in a Volkswagen Golf was killed by the impact of the deploying air bag in an oncoming traffic collision. The car owners (the parents of the killed baby) had previously had the air bag disabled by a certified garage. This prompted a recall of 35,000 Volkswagen A3 (German Golf) cars.
• Death of a single mother from Illinois is currently under investigation. She was found in a parking lot in her undamaged 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage, slumped over a detonated air bag.

• From the Usenet:
  Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 22:45:23 GMT
  Two days ago I was stuck in a jam getting to the toll booths at the I-95 tunnel in Baltimore. Heard a loud bang in the lane next to mine (my windows were closed and I had tunes playing). From the sound, I cringed and thought major rear-end collision.
  Turned to look and saw a young woman (the passenger) almost falling out of a car holding her ears. The car had rear-ended the car in front, but there was absolutely no damage to either car. In fact, the driver of the car in front got out, looked at his rear bumper, appeared to tell the driver of the rear car, "no problem", and got back in to wait his turn in the toll booth line.
  Meanwhile, the passenger was lying against the car still holding her ears and, when I looked in the open passenger door, I saw the airbag had deployed. This was the loud sound I had heard.
  LEOs were now walking down from the toll booth area and my traffic lane was moving ahead. I can just imagine the resulting actions were going to jam up traffic worse than it already was.
  If something is going to save my life, I don't care what it sounds like, but this has got me wondering just what will set off the airbag.

  Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 17:24:24 GMT
  A friend of mine was in an accident the other day in a '90 Mustang, a car pulled out in front of him when he was doing about 40 km/h and he was unable to avoid it. Damage was only about $1,000 to the grill and lights area.
  As he was getting out of the car to survey the damage, his airbag, apparently detecting a dangerous situation (no motion at all), went off, driving him into the door frame. I can't help but think how lucky he is that he didn't rest his head on the steering wheel once everything stopped. A minor fender bender could have been upgraded to a fatality.
  Add another $1,000 to the cost to repair his car.

  Date: Th, 30 March 2000 15:31:32 GMT
  Last night's Dateline closed the show with IIHS bumper tests. The biggest surprise was when a Volvo sedan fired both its driver and passenger air bag in a 5 mph front bumper test.
  The Dateline presentation made a point of this finding by showing and mentioning that the front of the car saw no damage. Then the camera moved to the passenger compartment and showed the discharged air bags. Aside from mentioning the $4,000 repair cost to replace the air bag system, the program didn't get into the issue of the unintended firing of the air bag.
  This deployment is clearly far outside the range of acceptability or safety, by any method of rationalization. It is the sort of accident that could easily happen in a shopping mall parking lot, maybe before you put on your safety belt, or maybe when you would be leaning forward to see out from between parked vans, or perhaps turned halfway around while backing up -- and thus be at MUCH higher risk for air bag injuries or death because of being out of place and too close to the explosives. The problem is NOT the manufacturer's fault - it's in the design requirements of the device.

  Date: Mon, 24 April 2000 11:03:20 GMT
  Last night was an interesting night. The driver's side airbag went off in my '88 M6 with 104K miles, apparently without cause. It was interesting to say the least. I was rounding a fairly tight right-hand exit-ramp, transitioning from the Hutchinson River Parkway to the Cross County Parkway in New York. The curve isn't very bumpy. Certainly I've hit worse. When....BAM!!! It sounded like an enormous balloon popping in your face. I was able to continue driving until I had room to pull over. It left my wife and I temporarily hard of hearing and released an acrid smoke into the cabin. The bag just grazed my lower lip and my stomach. I only felt a slight stinging that disappeared by this morning. However, I still think I'm coming down from the adrenalin surge. I'm 6 foot and my seat is set for the proper driving position, arms slightly bent. I had both hands on the wheel at the time, but neither were thrown away and I didn't sustain any injuries to them or my arms. The propellent left residue on my clothes, my wife's clothes and the inside of the car.
  Overall it was a violent explosion, but falls shortof the horrors I've heard regarding airbags. On the other hand, I wouldn't want my 4'-10" wife to experience the same thing. It certainly would have walloped her in the face. I can see how they would help save you in a high speed collision, but properly belted in, I don't see their usefulness below 20 mph.
  I have contacted BMW NA out of curiosity and my car had no outstanding recalls and they are investigating what could have happened. I'll update everyone when they get back to me.
  

• NEWSFLASH 3/04:

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