When I came into this office, I said that safety would be the Department's top priority. Determining what to do with air bags has been the most difficult safety issue we have faced so far.
Air bags are like medicines that save lives, but can have dangerous side effects.
Thirteen years ago, Secretary Dole announced the rule that has led to 67 million vehicles being equipped with air bags. It was a tough decision then. The issue had been debated for 15 long years. And clearly, much good has come from air bags. 2600 lives have been saved.