After years of unavailability, air cushions are available again in the United States (They were offered for sale in some General Motors cars during the mid 1970s). The prospect is improving for wider availability. Mercedes-Benz is offering driver air cushions in selected 1984 models. One American automaker, Ford Motor Company, may equip a portion of the federal fleet with driver-side air cushion systems. In addition, the Supreme Court, finding the air cushion "an effective and cost-beneficial lifesaving technology," has instructed the U.S. Department of Transportation to require automatic restraints - air cushions or automatic seat belts - in all new cars or provide sound justification for not doing so. Legislation mandating air cushions in some new cars has been approved by a committee of the U.S. Senate. This special publication looks at air cushion safety systems - how they work, how they have performed in tests and more than 10 years of real-world driving, and how they compare with other kinds of occupant restraints. (A)
Abstract