RE: Gov't on airbags

[Peter Henriksen <peterhe@microsoft.com>]

Is there any data on where the seat of the person killed was adjusted to
front-back?

The US spec airbags are designed to restrain an *unbelted* average
person. The latter specification unfortunately is taller than 66% of
American females and the whole thing does not take seat adjustment into
account. Sitting too close to a deploying airbag is dangerous. However,
judging from how a lot of people sit, even by the wheel, with their
elbows describing a 10 degree or so angle as opposed to the correct
driving position, most Americans don't know this.

Don't get me wrong: I think the US airbag spec is a typical overreaction
(see also "Active Seat Belts") to a problem without really investigating
first. The European airbags are smaller and don't deploy as violently.
They're designed to aid in restraining a belted person (i.e., somebody
with a minimum of brains).
- peter
  peterhe@microsoft.com - http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1001
  91 200qw
  94 acura legend gs
  issaquah, wa, usa


>-----Original Message-----
>From:	Ivan Sever [SMTP:sever@husc.harvard.edu]
>Sent:	Saturday, November 23, 1996 9:14 PM
>To:	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
>Subject:	Re: Gov't on airbags
>
>It surprised me how many people self-righteously commented on how they
>would never put a kid in a front seat. 'The problem are not the airbags,
>but the irresponsible parents', they concluded.
>Well so far, air bags killed nearly as many adults as children. You are
>at risk if you (or you passenger) are under 5'4". Do you advocate short
>adults should be driving from the back seat as well?
>
>Ivan
>97A4Q
>