Abstract
Side air bags, recently tested for the first time in real-world situations, have been found to be extremely effective. Head- protecting side air bags reduced deaths among drivers by about 45 percent. People's heads are very vulnerable to impact from trees, poles and other vehicles during collision. Torso-protecting air bags were also shown to reduce the risk of death, but this type of airbag does not provide the same level of protection as head-protecting airbag. Torso-protecting air bags reduced deaths by about 10 percent. Forty percent of 2003 passenger vehicle models were equipped with head-protecting side air bags.