Injuries to children from airbag deployment.

THE POSITION OF A CHILD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RIGHT BEFORE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IS SUBSTANTIALLY AFFECTED BY PANIC BRAKING A DRIVER OFTEN USES WHEN HIS VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO GET INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. A CHILD FREQUENTLY TAKES OTHER SEATING POSITIONS THAN THE NORMAL MANNER ON A VEHICLE SEAT, AND WHEN IN SUCH POSITIONS IT IS LIKELY TO BE MORE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT THAN IN THE NORMAL SEATING POSITION. A TEST WAS CONDUCTED ON PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEMS INSTALLED IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS TO COMPARE THE INJURIES THEIR DEPLOYMENT INFLICT ON AN OUT-OF-POSITION CHILD. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT IN EACH SYSTEM TESTED, ADVERSE EFFECTS OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ON OUT-OF-POSITION CHILD OCCUPANTS DID EXIST. (A) FOR THE COVERING ABSTRACT OF SECTION 5 SEE IRRD 266063. FOR THE COVERING ABSTRACT OF THE CONFERENCE SEE IRRD 266046.