The industry hopes the tests will help avoid problems that have occurred with front air bags. In some cases, the bags have deployed with such force that children and small adults have been killed or seriously injured. No side-bag fatalities found At least 158 deaths since 1990 have been blamed on front air bags, but they are also credited with saving at least 5,000 lives. But federal authorities say their testing shows side air bags could kill or seriously injure young children, especially those sleeping or leaning against the door when the bag inflates. Some consumer groups complain they were kept out of the closed-door meetings at which the proposal was crafted and say the government should issue a safety standard that has the force of law.
Industry simply cuts corners, and children pay with their lives.
Kaneshia Coren Pinckney Missing from Silver Spring, Md., since July 7, 2000. Inc. All rights reserved.