The 2007 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey was the sixth in a series of periodic national telephone surveys on occupant protection issues conducted for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Data collection was conducted by Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas, Inc., a national survey research organization. The survey used two questionnaires, each administered to a randomly selected national sample of about 6,000 persons age 16 or older. Interviewing began January 9, 2007, and ended April 30, 2007. This report presents the survey findings pertaining to air bags. Detailed information on the survey methodology, as well as copies of the questionnaires, are contained in a separate NHTSA report ('2007 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey. Volume 1. Methodology Report'). The percentage of drivers with air bags in their primary vehicles has continued to increase. In 2007, 90% reported air bags in their primary vehicles, compared to 77% in 2003. The vast majority of the public (96%) understood that seat belts still needed to be worn even when the vehicle they were riding in had an air bag. Thirty-three percent of the public had concerns about the safety of air bags. Despite the concerns, 90% of the public would prefer both driver and passenger air bags in their next vehicle, compared to 5% who would prefer not to have air bags in their next vehicle and 3% who were unsure what they would prefer. (Author/publisher)
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