Abstract
Through 1995, airbags have saved about 1,100 lives in the United States. However, this advisory leaflet of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) reports on the dangers of an inflating airbag for infants, children and short drivers. The purpose of this leaflet is to address these dangers, without questioning the benefits of the airbag in saving lives, and states that further research in this field is necessary. It foresees the development of a smart airbag that will detect occupant characteristics and crash severity. But it will be some years before these are in new cars.