This paper discusses the need for an international standard which may be used by National Competant Authorities (NCAs) to approve or authorise the acquisition of air-bags and seat-belt tensioners. Recent discussions in the USA between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and others (e.g. motor and insurance industry) on ways of reducing unwanted side-effects of air-bags has focused on four main points: (a) changes in crash test requirements; (b) enforcement of seat-belt use regulation; (c) education of the public; and (d) the need for "smart" restraint systems. This paper considers the problems experienced by companies resulting from delays in obtaining approvals or authorisations for the components of smart systems and suggests that such delays could be avoided if national authorities based their approval or authorisation procedures on an international standard. (A)
Samenvatting