Re: Airbags - only last 10 years ?

mrcheerful . wrote:
> "Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:41lttoF1eqjuqU2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> mrcheerful . wrote:
>>> "Adrian" <toomany2cvs@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>> news:Xns973C6A9FF4D94adrianachapmanfreeis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> mrcheerful. (nbkm57@xxxxxxxxxxx) gurgled happily, sounding much
>>>> like they were saying :
>>>>
>>>>>> Can't have been THAT ancient a scrapyard banger. Airbags only
>>>>>> started to come in in the early 90s - not that much over the ten
>>>>>> years and certainly not much over fifteen.
>>>>
>>>>> They came in to use from 1967 in the states, 1974 was first
>>>>> proper production car with them, all US cars had to have them by
>>>>> 1989, so there are probably quite a few in scrap yards. Especially on
>>>>> Volvos and the like.
>>>>
>>>> You sure about those dates? Sources?
>>>>
>>>> I can only find 1998 as a compulsory date for the US. and plenty to
>>>> suggest
>>>> that '89 was about when they *started* to offer them in anything
>>>> other than
>>>> very small numbers.
>>>
>>> I looked on wikipedia, that says that congress made it mandatory for
>>> all cars by 1989.
>>> Perhaps it is wrong, but either way, there are plenty of air bag
>>> equipped cars in the scrappies.
>>>
>>
>> Wikipedia is right but you have read it carelessly. It correctly
>> states that airbags became compulsory in the USA during 1998, only
>> seven years ago.
>>
>> Huw
>
> I read the bit that says:
> "On July 11, 1984, the U.S. government required cars to have driver's
> side air bags or automatic seat belts by 1989. Over 15,000 lives have
> been saved by air bags in the last 20 years since. Initially, most
> vehicles featured a single airbag, mounted in the steering wheel and
> protecting the driver of the car (who is the most at risk of injury).
> "
> mrcheerful

I don't know why you are so selective, that's your business, but the
unedited paragraph from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbag is copied
below and is self explanitory.

On July 11, 1984, the U.S. government required cars to have driver's side
air bags or automatic seat belts by 1989. Over 15,000 lives have been saved
by air bags in the last 20 years since. Initially, most vehicles featured a
single airbag, mounted in the steering wheel and protecting the driver of
the car (who is the most at risk of injury). During the 1990s, airbags for
front seat passengers, then separate side impact airbags placed between the
door and occupants, became common. In 1991 Congress mandated that all new
passenger vehicles be equipped with driver and passenger air bags by 1998.

END



Just in case you have difficulty working it out, automatic seat belts OR
airbags were made manditory by '89 but it was only 1998 when frontal impact
airbags themselves became compulsory. Most are now SRS type, which are
supplementary restraints used in conjunction with seatbelts. Of course most
medium and premium cars had long airbags before the deadlines and economy
cars just before. 'Automatic' seatbelts were never offered in the UK AFAIK
because seat belt wearing was made compulsory some years ago and most people
actually wear them.

I'm pretty sure that in Europe only substantially redesigned and newly
launched cars actually have to be crash tested and need SRS and other
systems such as similarly [now soon to be]'compulsory' ABS. Older designs
still bought as new vehicles, such as the Land Rover Defender, are exempt.
IMO this is inexcuseable and consumers should shun these substantially less
safe vehicles. I am not aware as to the position in this regard in the USA.

During 2006 it is probable that almost all car launches will have standard
tyre inflation warning devices as this also will soon become compulsory in
the USA, mainly as a reaction to the Ford Explorer/Firestone debacle.



Huw


.

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