The one fact that is common to all persons who are at risk from air bags is that they are extremely close to the air bag at time of deployment. Behavioral changes, such as ensuring that children ride in the back seat and that all occupants are properly restrained, can sharply reduce the number of persons who are in such positions.
However, to minimize or eliminate air bag risks for the remaining persons who may be close to the air bag at time of deployment, one of two things must be done: either air bag deployment must be suppressed, or the air bag must be designed to deploy in such a manner that it does not cause a significant risk of injury to persons in such positions. All of the technologies to minimize or eliminate air bag risks follow one of these approaches.
As NHTSA developed test requirements to minimize or eliminate air bag risks, it needed to account for the fact that the persons who are potentially at risk vary from infants to adults, and have different potentials for injury. The agency therefore found it necessary to develop requirements using a variety of test dummy sizes. Moreover, since the agency wished to avoid requirements that are unnecessarily design-restrictive, it was necessary to develop a variety of manufacturer options that account for the kinds of effective technological solutions that the agency knows are under development.
Each of the test requirements being proposed by the agency is discussed below.
