AIR BAGS FOR SMALL CARS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted a number of research projects which examined the need and concern for occupants of small cars. These projects include the demonstration of air bags in small cars at crash severities equal to or greater than the 30 mph test required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 208. The results from these projects showing the protective capability of the air bag are reviewed. Factors influencing air bag performance such as amount of vehicle crush and the time available for air bag inflation are examined. Existing technology for providing air bag protection to occupants in small cars is discussed. The issue concerning the safety of out-of-position child passengers is addressed including a number of technical options for dealing with the out-of-position occupant.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01487191
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at SAE Government/Industry Meeting and Exposition Washington, D.C., May 20-23, 1985.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Morris, J B
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 6 p.
• Serial:
  • SAE Technical Paper
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0148-7191
  • EISSN: 2688-3627
  • Serial URL: http://papers.sae.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air bags; Children; Compact automobiles; Crash tests; Crashes; Demonstration projects; Occupant protection devices; Performance; Testing
• Identifier Terms: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
• Uncontrolled Terms: Occupant protection
• Old TRIS Terms: Small car
• Subject Areas: Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00451291
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 851200, HS-039 097
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 31 1985 12:00AM