Background Older designs of air bags have saved thousands of lives; NHTSA estimates 10,789 as of April 1, 2003. However, over the same time span air bags have also been linked with the deaths of 229 people, most of whom were children. NHTSA must ensure that future air bag designs continue to offer life-saving benefits, while minimizing the possibility of death in low speed crashes. Advanced air bag systems are designed to control how quickly an air bag deploys and how fully it inflates depending on the circumstances of the crash. Circumstances that influence the performance of an advanced air bag system can include the severity of the crash and whether occupants are wearing safety belts. Newer technologies in advanced air bag systems respond to the size of the occupants and the distance they are seated from the air bag. In May 2000, NHTSA upgraded the requirements for air bags in passenger cars and light trucks. The upgrade was designed to meet the goals of (1) improving protection for occupants of all sizes, belted and unbelted, in moderate to high speed crashes and (2) of minimizing the risks posed by air bags to infants, children, and other occupants, especially in low speed crashes. During the first stage phase-in, from September 2003 through August 2006, increasing percentages of motor vehicles will be required to meet requirements for reducing air bag risks. The second stage phase-in, from September 2007 through August 2010, increasing percentages of motor vehicles will be required to meet the increased maximum test speed for the belted rigid barrier test.

ObjectiveDetermine the incremental consumer cost and weight of advanced air bags.

Proposed Approach The cost of components used in advanced air bags will be estimated by "teardown" studies and, if necessary, compared to the cost of corresponding components in baseline air bags in the same or similar make-models. Advanced technology might include weight sensors, position sensors, multilevel crash-severity sensors, multilevel inflators, and other means to tailor the deployment characteristics. Initial cost analyses can be completed within a year; however, one or more follow-ups may be necessary as later-generation advanced air bags are phased in.