This summary introduces the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) conference session, discusses the establishment of the BRP and its composition, presents the goals of the BRP, and concludes by stating the goal of the BRP conference session. Briefly, the BRP is a panel of experts consisting of representatives from the highway safety research community, the National Transportation Safety Board, academia, medical institutions, and the insurance industry. Established as the Blue Ribbon Panel for Evaluation of Depowered and Advanced Airbags, the BRP goals are to answer three basic questions: (1) Are vehicles equipped with redesigned and advanced airbag systems as effective as vehicles equipped with first-generation airbags at reducing overall injury and death in frontal crashes? (2) Are vehicles equipped with sled-certified airbag systems offering reduced protection in higher severity crashes, particularly for unbelted occupants? (3) Is the incidence of airbag-induced injuries to children and other vulnerable occupants lower in vehicles with redesigned airbags, particularly in low-speed frontal impacts?
Abstract