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Injury risk to restrained children exposed to deployed first- and second-generation air bags in frontal crashes
Kristy B Arbogast1, Dennis R Durbin, Michael J Kallan
1Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. arbogast@email.chop.edu
Insights
Second-generation passenger air bags significantly reduced the risk of serious injury for children in frontal crashes. Belted children in the front seat experienced a lower injury rate with newer air bag technology.
Area of Science:
- Traffic safety research
- Pediatric injury prevention
- Automotive engineering
Background:
- Passenger air bags are crucial safety devices in vehicles.
- Early air bag designs posed risks to children.
- Assessing the safety evolution of passenger air bag technology is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the risk of serious nonfatal injuries in frontal crashes for children using second-generation versus first-generation passenger air bags.
- To evaluate the safety of children seated in the front right seat with deployed air bags.
Main Methods:
- A probability sample of 1781 seat belt-restrained children (ages 3-15) in the front right seat was analyzed.
- Data were collected via telephone interviews with drivers following frontal crashes involving insured vehicles.
- Weighted analyses were performed to determine the risk of serious injury (AIS score ≥2 and facial lacerations).
Main Results:
- The risk of serious injury for children exposed to second-generation air bags was 9.9%.
- This is compared to 14.9% for children exposed to first-generation air bags.
- The adjusted odds ratio for injury with second-generation air bags was 0.59 (95% CI, 0.36-0.97).
Conclusions:
- Field data indicate that second-generation passenger air bags reduce injury risk for children.
- The improved design offers enhanced safety for young occupants in frontal collisions.
- This study supports the benefits of advancements in automotive safety technology for children.
Objective:
To estimate the risk of serious nonfatal injuries in frontal crashes among belted children seated in the right front seat of vehicles in which second-generation passenger air bags deployed compared with that of belted children seated in the right front seat of vehicles in which first-generation passenger air bags deployed.
Design And Setting:
We enrolled a probability sample of 1781 seat belt-restrained occupants aged 3 through 15 years seated in the right front seat, exposed to deployed passenger air bags in frontal crashes involving insured vehicles in 3 large US regions, between December 1, 1998, and November 30, 2002. A telephone interview was conducted with the driver of the vehicle using a previously validated instrument. The study sample was weighted according to each subject's probability of selection, with analyses conducted on the weighted sample. Main Outcome Measure Risk of serious injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale score of > or =2 injuries and facial lacerations).
Results:
The risk of serious injury for restrained children in the right front seat exposed to deployed second-generation passenger air bags was 9.9%, compared with 14.9% for similar children exposed to deployed first-generation passenger air bags (adjusted odds ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-0.97).
Conclusion:
This study provides evidence based on field data that the risk of injury to children exposed to deploying second-generation passenger air bags is reduced compared with earlier designs.
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