Air Bags
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Safety in the automobile is an issue that automakers face only when they have to. With rare exceptions, car manufacturers do not take the initiative in including safety equipment because they argue that doing so increases the costs of cars and decreases their market share. Automakers argued against the requirement that seat belts be standard equipment for these reasons, and argued against including air bags for the same reasons. Yet air bags have become commonplace in automobiles, and are likely to be standard equipment in most cars before the end of the century. In addition to systems which help minimize injuries in front impact collisions, air bags are being developed which can minimize injury in side impact collisions and even keep freight protected. This research examines how air bags work and how they have been implemented, the role of government and the automotive industry in their implementation, the political and legal issues associated with air bags, economic considerations, and what is likely to happen in this area in the future.Although the term "air bag" is used in normal conversation, the regulatory agencies and vehicle manufacturers tend to call it a "supplemental restraint system" (SRS) or "supplemental inflatable restraint" system (SIR) in most written references. This terminology, particularly the use of the term "supplemental" reinforces the idea that air bags are intended to be used in conjunction with other restrai
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estraint systems need to deploy in less than half the time as front air bags, sensing and triggering devices need to be considerably more accurate and reliable (Keenan 37).
Political and Legal Issues
As already noted, the federal government has assumed a large role in requiring that supplemental restraint systems be standard equipment for front collisions. The auto industry has responded to increased calls for safety in side collisions by pursuing side impact air bags, as well, although there are difficult technical issues to resolve in this area. However, the legal environment surrounding air bags is not at all clear, and there are considerable problems and litigation which have arisen from a product which was designed to save lives.
One of the problems with supplemental restraint systems arises when children are involved. Rear-facing child safety seats are common configurations for seats designed for infants. These seats offer the most protection when they are placed in the middle of the back seat, which is where most car seat manufacturers recommend placing them. However, a common placement is in the front passenger seat so that the driver (usually a parent) can keep an eye on the baby or comfort it if necessary. When
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Approximate Word count = 2584
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)
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