Re: Euro airbags

[ScharfR@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-05-29 14:21:14 EDT, marques@ti.com (Luis Marques)
writes:

<< I seriously doubt that it was because they are based on the premise
     that the ocupant is not using his seat belt.  >>

In fact, the current U.S. air bag regulations _do_ require the air bag to
protect an umbelted dummy (note both meanings) in a frontal collision.
 
<<  So, wearing a seat belt is just as important when you have an
      airbag, if not more. >>

That's why air bags are uniformly called "supplemental restraints."  They
work best when used as a supplement to properly worn seat belts.
 
 <<  I fact, there is a movement underway to reevaluate the size of
   US airbags for the potential harm they can do to small people, or
   those that forget to buckle up.  >> 

The issue is more a matter of the size of the explosion, not the size of the
bag.  And I have a hard time accepting that too many people really "forget"
to wear a seat belt.