Birmingham Injury Blog

The Georgia Injury Law Blog has posted an article on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's new proposition for stronger side airbags in vehicles. Last year the NHTSA announced that auto makers would be required to comply with "stronger roof strength standards" to prevent injuries and fatalities in rollover crashes.

The agency is now saying that stronger side airbags can prevent passengers from being ejected from a vehicle window during a rollover accident, even if they're not wearing a seatbelt. In 2002, 10,600 people died in rollover crashes and the number has declined every year especially since " more cars now come equipped with Electronic Stability Control systems that prevent rollovers."

According to its data, every year 6,400 people die when they are ejected from the side window during a rollover. It’s these lives the agency wants to save with its new standards. Currently, many vehicles come with side airbags, but these don’t comply with the NHTSA’s proposed stronger new standards.