SIDE AIR BAG SAFETY
Vehicle manufacturers are increasingly offering side air
bag systems as either standard or optional safety equipment in the front seats of
vehicles. Side air bags protect drivers and front seat adult passengers in certain types
of side-impact collisions. Only a small number of side air bag systems are offered in the
rear seat.
There are currently three different types of side air bag
systems:
- Roof-mounted side air bags that come out from the roof line
along the upper edge of the doors. These are designed to protect the head and neck.
- Door-mounted side air bags that are located in the armrest
of the door or just above the armrest in the door panel. These fill the space between the
occupant and the door and are designed to protect the chest.
- Seat-mounted air bags that are located in the seat back
cushion along the side closest to the door. These come in two different sizes and are
designed to protect both the chest and head.
Transport Canada has been conducting tests with
smaller-sized crash test dummies to find ways to minimize injury risk to children during
the deployment of air bags. It is important to follow some basic guidelines when
travelling with children in your vehicle, including:
- use the appropriate child restraint correctly;
- keep children in the rear seat; and
- keep children out of the way of all air bags.
The department was a member of a working group which
recently finalized recommended procedures for evaluating the risk of injury to occupants
by the deployment of side air bags. Industry and regulatory agencies now have a common set
of guidelines with which to evaluate air bag systems.
Transport Canada continues to work with vehicle
manufacturers to improve the performance of air bags and enhance their safety benefits.
More information on air bag safety, including the guidelines on side air bags, can be
found on the Transport Canada web site at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/tp2436/rs200006/en/index.htm.
May 2006
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