[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10831-S10832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    AIR BAG SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I rise to make a few remarks concerning 
child passenger vehicle occupant protection.
  Earlier this year, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation held an oversight hearing on the safety and 
effectiveness of driver side and passenger side air bags. At the 
hearing, we learned that generally air bags are safe. They are credited 
with saving approximately 900 lives since 1987 and with reducing the 
severity of injury in many more instances. So it is abundantly clear 
that air bags are an important automotive safety device.
  Unfortunately, there is a downside to air bag use. While usually 
minor in nature, in some cases they cause injuries. In the worst cases, 
they have caused death. This is especially true in the case of children 
with some data showing two children die because of a passenger side air 
bag deployment for every one saved by the deployment.
  The Committee's oversight hearing highlighted issues like this and 
also explored actions underway at the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) to improve child passenger safety. At the 
hearing, I stressed the need to publicize the importance of putting 
child safety seats in the back seat and not in a passenger seat 
equipped with an air bag.
  Subsequent to our hearing, I was pleased that a coalition was formed 
to alert the public of passenger side air bag dangers to infants and 
children. I also have followed closely the initiatives at NHTSA to 
change federal air bag requirements, encourage the introduction of new 
air bag technology, and improve child restraint system performance.
  These steps are needed and they hold promise for child passenger 
safety improvements. However, more comprehensive action is needed.
  Yesterday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released 
the findings of its 2-year child occupant safety study. Pointing to the 
dangers and risks to children posed by passenger-side air bags and 
improperly used child restraint systems, the NTSB called on NHTSA, 
State Governors, and automobile manufacturers to take steps to address 
continuing safety problems.
  For instance, the NTSB study found inadequacies in NHTSA's proposed 
rulemaking on smart air bags and air bag warning labels. On August 1, 
1996, NHTSA proposed changes to federal air bag requirements to 
encourage the introduction of new air bag technology. If automobile 
manufacturers do not provide the so-called smart air bags, the NHTSA 
proposal would require manufacturers to post new and more prominent air 
bag warning labels inside the vehicle.
  The safety study, however, concluded that the NHTSA proposal will not 
accelerate the development of more intelligent systems. As a result of 
its review of the proposed rulemaking, the NTSB called on NHTSA to do 
more to encourage automobile manufacturers to install intelligent air 
bag systems and specifically recommended that NHTSA establish an 
implementation timetable.

  In another area, the NTSB safety study investigated air bag 
deployment rates and recommended that NHTSA's technical air bag 
deployment threshold standards be reevaluated. The recommendation urges 
the consideration of technical standards for less aggressive air bag 
deployment, particularly for those on the passenger side of motor 
vehicles.
  Its my recollection that NHTSA has said the technology for less 
aggressive air bag deployment currently is not available. However, 
technically it can be done. Canada, as I understand it, is on the verge 
of requiring less aggressive deployment standards for air bags in any 
car sold in Canada. Until ``smart'' air bags are available, this may be 
the best interim solution and NHTSA should carefully investigate this 
possibility. The NTSB recommendations make clear the lack of testing 
that was done prior to putting passenger side air bags into the 
automotive fleet.
  The NTSB also asked NHTSA to revise several motor vehicle safety 
standards governing air bags and passenger restraint systems. As 
revisions are made, testing and performance standards that reflect an 
actual accident environment must be developed.
  Quick action on these recommendations is required because there are 
nearly 22 million vehicles currently on the road with passenger-side 
air bags. NHTSA's proposed rulemaking will not affect these vehicles. 
Also, an estimated 13 million additional vehicles will be sold yearly 
before the new standards take effect.
  Something must be done to protect children in vehicles like these. 
Changes in air bag deployment rates and the installation of on-off 
deployment switches are two of the options that could be evaluated.
  The NTSB's safety study also explores in detail the difficulties 
parents and care givers have in securing a child restraint system 
properly in vehicles. Inadequacies in the design of child restraint 
systems themselves and the need to improve seatbelt fit for children 
were singled out by the NTSB as an area in which safety improvements 
can be made.
  These problems warrant action and I encourage NHTSA to act swiftly on 
the NTSB recommendations. I will continue to follow this safety issue 
closely and plan on holding a hearing early in the next Congress to 
examine the NTSB's safety study.
  Mr. President, finally we need to get a simple message to parents. We 
must tell parents that until less aggressive passenger side air bags or 
``smart'' air

[[Page S10832]]

bags are available there is something they can do to protect their 
children. Specifically, they should consider placing all children under 
12 in the back seat of their vehicles whenever the vehicle is in 
motion. Studies have shown the back seat to be the safest place for 
children in passenger vehicles. In fact, Germany already requires this 
by law.
  I want to applaud the NTSB's call for educational campaigns 
emphasizing the importance of transporting children in the back seat of 
passenger vehicles. I know of one car manufacturer that recently 
developed an advertising campaign urging this safety measure as part of 
its efforts to raise public awareness on the dangers of passenger side 
air bags to children. We must improve vehicle occupant protection and 
initiatives like these offer significant safety benefits.

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