DOT ACTS TO REQUIRE 'AIR BAG' RESTRAINTS IN VEHICLES
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS TAKING THE FIRST LEGAL STEP TOWARDS REQUIRING MANUFACTURERS TO EQUIP NEW MOTOR VEHICLES WITH AIR BAGS OR SIMILAR PROVISIONS FOR PROTECTING PASSENGERS DURING A CRASH. THE AIR BAG IS A DEVICE WHICH AUTOMATICALLY INFLATES IN FRONT OF THE OCCUPANT WITHIN A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF A SECOND AFTER THE INITIAL CRASH CONTACT. THE DEVICES ARE FULLY AUTOMATIC AND CAN BE STORED IN THE STEERING COLUMN, THE DASHBOARD, AND ON THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT. THEY DISTRIBUTE THE HEAVY LOADS GENERATED IN MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES OVER A LARGE AREA OF THE BODY ENABLING OCCUPANTS TO EXPERIENCE MUCH HIGHER CRASH FORCES WITHOUT INJURY, AND THEY CUSHION OCCUPANTS DURING THE CRASH. THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM REQUIREMENT WOULD APPLY TO ALL NEW PASSENGER VEHICLES SUCH AS STATION WAGONS, AND TO TRUCKS AND BUSES.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Fhwa-333, pP 1-2
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Corporate Authors:
Federal Highway Administration
Department of Transportation News, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 - Publication Date: 1969-7-1
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Air bags; Automatic control; Constraints; Cushioning materials; Impacts; Inflation; Motor vehicles; Passengers; Protection
- Old TRIS Terms: Cushioning
- Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00220509
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
- Files: TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Mar 9 1970 12:00AM