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Airbags That Protect the Head Can Make Side-Impact Crashes Survivable
Recent crash tests have found airbags at head level are essential in protecting vehicle occupants involved in side impact crashes.
30 November, 2004
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NRMA Motoring & Services and the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority today released a summary of six research tests where four wheel drive vehicles were crashed sideways into a pole at 29 kilometres per hour [i.e. a mere 18mph].
NRMA Vehicle Policy Specialist, Jack Haley and RTA General Manager Road Safety, Dr Soames Job, said the results demonstrated very clearly that to ensure head protection in sideways crashes into poles or trees, a head protecting airbag was vital.
They also said side airbags provided important protection for the chest and abdomen, but did not provide head protection in side-on collisions with trees and poles or with high fronted vehicles like large 4WDs.
“NRMA encourages motorists to shop around for vehicles with a head protecting airbag, as they offer solid protection in the event of a sideways crash into poles or trees,” Mr Haley said.
“One of the vehicles tested in Australia had a curtain side airbag. This worked well and the dummy measurements indicated a very low risk of serious head injury.
Dr
Job said these types of crashes resulted in a high number of
serious and fatal injuries at surprisingly low speeds. “There is little room in the vehicle to provide protection because the occupants are so close to the crash but recent improvements in technology mean these crashes are now survivable.
“Curtain airbags have the added benefit of protecting rear seat occupants.”
Mr Haley said 10 similar tests in Europe and Japan on different vehicles fitted with head protection airbags confirmed the Australian results.
“This emphasises the importance for buyers to specify a full airbag package of front, side and head protecting side airbags or curtains when purchasing a new vehicle,” Mr Haley said.
“In many cases, these packages are combined with luxury or convenience items which then increase the cost and make them unaffordable for some vehicle buyers.
“The NRMA encourages manufacturers to make a full airbag package available as a cheaper Safety Pack, although standard fitment, as occurs in other countries, would be more desirable.”
Dr Job said analysis of real world crashes by the Monash University Accident Research Centre showed that 4WDs [i.e. SUVs] have a higher rate of side impacts into poles and trees compared with other vehicle types.
“Vehicle manufacturers should introduce electronic stability controls (ESC) for these types of vehicles to reduce the risk of running off the road and hitting a tree or pole,” Dr Job said.
“Studies carried out in the United States by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have shown that ESC has reduced the incidence of single vehicle crashes by 56 per cent and this in turn has reduced the number of rollovers.
“Car buyers should ask about electronic stability control and head-protecting side airbags or curtains when researching a new car.”
Further pole tests are planned in Australia by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), a consortium of motoring organisations and government authorities in Australia and New Zealand.
The results of pole crash tests conducted on several models of vehicle in Europe and Japan are available on the Crash Tests web pages of NRMA
A number of 4WD vehicles offer head protection airbags as standard equipment [in Australia], including:
Source: National Roads and Motorists' Association Limited
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