As we all have seen in the media, airbags pose a potential physical risk to automotive passengers, and more so for certain types of passengers in some instances. The average consumer has been informed about some of the safety concerns and conditions associated with airbags. I receive many calls each week demanding the deactivation of car owners' airbag systems due to the "scary stories" from the media. So far, 68 deaths reportedly have been caused by airbags inflating in low-severity crashes. But when concerned consumers call, I calmly and carefully educate them about the laws and obligations of the automotive service industry. Consumers become irate when they realize airbag deactivation is not an option without a letter from the federal government. But by the end of the call, and after educating these consumers on the truth about airbags, they have a new appreciation for the lifesaving devices in their vehicles.

What we haven't been told by the media is airbags save many lives and that there are responsible entities looking out for overall consumer safety and well-being. Automotive associations across the United States - Automotive Service Association (ASA), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and AAA, to name a few - are demanding proper airbag procedures and new components. These organizations, as well as our own, serve as the watchdogs of the collision repair/service industry.

Consumers are entitled to proper airbag safety and more education, not just the statistics involving airbag casualties. So much more is involved. Driver airbags reduce deaths by about 14 percent in all kinds of crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Passenger airbags are reducing deaths among front-seat passengers by about 11 percent in all kinds of crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that the combination of an airbag plus a lap/shoulder belt reduces the risk of serious head injury by 75 percent, compared with a 38 percent reduction for belts alone. In all, it is estimated that nearly 2,000 people are alive today because of their airbags.

Every day, we encounter people who owe their lives to airbags. Just recently, the secretary at my daughter's school was hit head-on by a driver who was asleep at the wheel. Without the seat belt and airbag, she probably would have been seriously injured or killed. As it was, her vehicle flipped, but she walked away from the accident with minor bruises.

In addition to educating consumers on all facts concerning airbags, it is time for the media to look at the improvements in airbags. The "smart bags" that are being demanded by NHTSA and implemented by OEMs have been on the design boards for many years. It is no mystery to the engineers who were the design pioneers that the first airbags to appear were a safety hazard to some individuals, but as with any invention, there is a hybrid process that comes with implementation and data acquisition. The smart bags of today will only be more intelligent in the future, thereby saving more lives while posing less of a physical threat to certain passengers.

Airbags are here to stay. It is extremely important that we calm public fears and portray airbags as they really are - life-saving devices that, although not perfect, are indeed saving lives.

RATE THIS ARTICLE What do you think of this article? Your input will help AutoInc. develop additional articles on this subject. Share your thoughts! Your name Your e-mail address

MOST ACCESSED ARTICLES Fuel Injection Service, Not Just Cleaning The Art of Extraction EGR Systems: Operation and Diagnosis Proactive Target Marketing:_Rethinking Your Business Strategy Engine Performance: HO2S Diagnostics MOST E-MAILED ARTICLES Developing Employee Potential How Critical Thinking Can Help Your Business How to Diagnose the Ford Glow Plug What to Look for When Shopping for the Right Shop Management Software Putting a Price Tag on Complaints

AutoInc. Web Site | ASA Web Site | Replacement Crash Parts Summit II | Production Momentum | Picture This: Digital Imaging | The Training Enigma | Employee or Independent Contractor? | Guest Editorial | Tech to Tech | Tech Tips | Shop Profile | Net Worth | Chairman's Message