REDUCTIONS IN DEATHS IN FRONTAL CRASHES AMONG RIGHT FRONT PASSENGERS IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER AIR BAGS

Context.-Virtually all new cars now are equipped with passenger air ba gs. Determining whether passenger air bags are saving lives is importa nt, particularly because passenger air bags have caused some deaths am ong children and adults.Objective.-To assess the effectiveness of pass enger air bags in reducing the risk of death in frontal crashes for ri ght front passengers. Design.-Air bags are designed to protect occupan ts in frontal crashes. Using Fatality Analysis Reporting System data f or calendar years 1992 through 1995, the relative frequency of right f ront passenger deaths in frontal vs nonfrontal fatal crashes was compa red for cars with dual air bags and for cars with driver-only air bags . Main Outcome Measures.-Odds of right front passengers dying in front al compared with nonfrontal fatal crashes were computed for 1992 throu gh 1995 model year cars with dual air bags and for cars with driver-on ly air bags. Percentage reductions in right front passenger deaths in dual air bag vehicles were estimated. Results.-Right front passenger f atalities were 18% lower than expected in frontal crashes of cars with dual air bags and 11% lower in all crashes. An estimated 73 fewer tha n expected right front passengers died in 1992 through 1995 model cars with dual air bags during 1992 through 1995. The risk of frontal cras h death for right front passengers in cars with dual air bags was redu ced 14% among those reported to be using belts and 23% among belt nonu sers. Children younger than 10 years in cars with dual air bags had a 34% increased risk of dying in frontal crashes. Conclusions.-Passenger air bags were associated with substantial reductions in fatalities am ong right front passengers in frontal crashes. However, more children are being killed than are being saved by air bags. Immediate counterme asures to reduce the dangers of air bags to children and adults are su ggested.