Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: NHTSA proposing new side airbag standards expected to cost $54 per car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/report-nhtsa-proposing-new-side-airbag-standards-expected-to-co/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/report-nhtsa-proposing-new-side-airbag-standards-expected-to-co/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/report-nhtsa-proposing-new-side-airbag-standards-expected-to-co/#commentsFiled under: ,



Naturally, safety is a top priority for both automakers and consumers alike. It's also of paramount concern to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, which is the government body that sets standards for automobile safety here in the States. According to The Detroit News, NHTSA is currently drafting up new legislation that would make side curtain airbags more robust.

NHTSA projects that the modified airbags would save some 402 lives and prevent 302 serious injuries per year, with the bulk of those made up of motorists who are not properly wearing their seat belts. The new rules would mandate curtain airbags that cover up more of the window opening and stay inflated longer, helping to ensure that occupants are not ejected during a rollover accident.

What price safety? Current estimates peg the upgrade at about $54 per vehicle, which equals roughly $920 million annually. Under the proposal, 20 percent of every major manufacturer's fleet would need to comply by 2014 and all vehicles would need to be so-equipped by 2017.

[Source: The Detroit News]

REPORT: NHTSA proposing new side airbag standards expected to cost $54 per car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagairbagscurtain airbagcurtain airbagsCurtainAirbagCurtainAirbagsNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationnhtsanhtsa airbagNhtsaAirbagside curtain airbagside curtain airbagsSideCurtainAirbagSideCurtainAirbagsThu, 03 Dec 2009 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes set to debut S-Class ESF safety concept with more airbags than a balloon shop]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/mercedes-set-to-debut-s-class-esf-safety-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/mercedes-set-to-debut-s-class-esf-safety-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/mercedes-set-to-debut-s-class-esf-safety-concept/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009 concept - Click above for image gallery

An inordinate number of the safety features that we now find commonplace in roadgoing automobiles made their debut in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. So where better to look for the next generation of safety technology? You guessed it.

To that end, Mercedes is slated to unveil a concept S-Class to showcase the safety features it is working on next. The ESF 2009 Concept is based on the S400 Hybrid - as if to show that "green" and "safe" can co-exist - and it comes packed with a bunch of new airbags. There's a new curtain airbag in between the seats (you know, so you don't butt heads), airbags in the seatbelts themselves, and perhaps the most innovative feature, a giant airbag underneath the vehicle that inflates in the case of an imminent crash, adding friction to help the car decelerate and lifting the front of the car a bit to compensate for brake dive. That last part worries us a little, as it strikes us that it could hinder any attempt to steer away from the crash, but for the time being we'll trust that Mercedes knows what it's doing. There are also seat bolsters that can move the occupants a couple of inches away from the doors in case of a side impact, metal beams that can actually inflate - thereby cutting weight and saving space on impact beams - and reflective tires.

With the airbag count rising rapidly, a potential crash is looking more expensive by the day, but Mercedes seems to revel in the "how can you put a price on safety?" approach. Stay tuned for more information, and check out the images in the gallery below in the meantime.


Gallery: Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009 concept


[Sources: Autocar and eMercedes-Benz]

Mercedes set to debut S-Class ESF safety concept with more airbags than a balloon shop originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagsmercedesmercedes esfmercedes-benzmercedes-benz esfmercedes-benz esf 2009mercedes-benz s-classmercedes-benz s400 hybridmercedes-benz safety conceptMercedes-benzEsfMercedes-benzEsf2009Mercedes-benzS-classMercedes-benzS400HybridMercedes-benzSafetyConceptMercedesEsfsafetyTue, 09 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford engineers slam basketballs and shopping carts into cars for safety's sake]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/ford-engineers-slam-basketballs-and-shopping-carts-into-cars-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/ford-engineers-slam-basketballs-and-shopping-carts-into-cars-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/ford-engineers-slam-basketballs-and-shopping-carts-into-cars-for/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ford's new airbag tests - Click above for high-res gallery

One of the cool things about being an engineer is that in addition to designing innovative new features, you get to develop novel ways to test those features. The 2009 Ford F-150 and 2010 Taurus both feature a new airbag deployment system that incorporates sensors to measure the pressure of a side impact in order manage the inflation rate of the bags. The pressure-based system provides more precise data than typical accelerometers and allows the system to better resist false positives that come from incidents like rolling shopping carts in parking lots and flying basketballs.

In order to calibrate the system, Ford's engineers devised a number of simulations to evaluate these different types of impacts and how they register to system sensors. In addition to the usual slate of slamming cars and crash sleds into each other, the engineers came up with other tests like a shopping cart loaded with 110-pounds of ballast that was rammed by a robot into the car. Since the sensors are located on the bottom of the car, a steel "cat'o'nine tails" whip was also used on the underside to simulate what might happen on a gravel road. Water cannons, pumpkins and basketballs also played a part in the development. Sounds like fun to us. Check out Ford's press release after the jump and a high-res image gallery of the new testing procedures below.


Gallery: Ford airbag sensor testing


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford engineers slam basketballs and shopping carts into cars for safety's sake

Ford engineers slam basketballs and shopping carts into cars for safety's sake originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 May 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagairbag sensorairbagsAirbagSensorfordford safety testingFordSafetyTestingWed, 13 May 2009 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[2009 Impala recalled over faulty airbags]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/2009-impala-recalled-over-faulty-airbags/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/2009-impala-recalled-over-faulty-airbags/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/2009-impala-recalled-over-faulty-airbags/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says passenger airbags in some 2009 Chevrolet Impalas may have a potentially deadly flaw. Not only could the devices fail to inflate in a crash, but the inflator tube could rupture and hurl pieces of it at passengers. Sounds pretty bad, but there is good news for most Impala owners. According to NHTSA, the recall will only affect 79 Impalas, and not all of them will need replacement. Airbags found to be faulty will be completely replaced under the recall campaign at GM service centers.

Notices will be mailed out sometime this month to Impala owners who need to have their vehicles inspected. You can read the entire NHTSA description here.

[Source: Inside Line]

2009 Impala recalled over faulty airbags originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbag recallAirbagRecallairbagschevrolet impalachevrolet recallChevroletImpalaChevroletRecallimpalaimpala recallImpalaRecallnhtsaFri, 10 Oct 2008 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Guy blows up Saturn, Ford airbags in a refrigerator]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/25/video-guy-blows-up-saturn-ford-airbags-in-a-refrigerator/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/25/video-guy-blows-up-saturn-ford-airbags-in-a-refrigerator/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/25/video-guy-blows-up-saturn-ford-airbags-in-a-refrigerator/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above to watch video after the jump

The Autoblog staff probably spends way too much time thinking about cars, and sometimes we find ourselves doing goofy things, as well. We can say that we've never fooled around with triggering air bags, but we're sure there are a few of you out there who have. One such person wanted to see what would happen if he hooked up a steering wheel air bag to a lead acid battery and set it off... while it was sealed inside a home appliance. Luckily for us those thoughtful farmers/junk car collectors caught the action on tape, and it's explosive to say the least.

The first air bag to find it's way into the refrigerator freezer is from an old Saturn, and since the airbag is larger than the confined space within the freezer, we weren't surprised that the door swung open violently. Next up the bat was an older Ford air bag, and we'd rather you saw the ridiculous results than have us explain them to you. Hit the jump to watch a late model Kenmore go nuclear. It's worth your time. For those of you unwilling to sit through the nearly six minutes of painful commentary, the Saturn goes off at about 1:50, and the Ford sends a Bud Light can into orbit at about 3:50. WARNING: There are some colorful words thrown around when the cameraman burns himself on the spent airbag.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Guy blows up Saturn, Ford airbags in a refrigerator

VIDEO: Guy blows up Saturn, Ford airbags in a refrigerator originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air bagsAirBagsblow up air bags in refrigeratorBlowUpAirBagsInRefrigeratorfordsaturnThu, 25 Sep 2008 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Only Honda: New i-SRS Airbag System and Bird's Eye camera]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/18/only-honda-new-i-srs-airbag-system-and-birds-eye-camera/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/18/only-honda-new-i-srs-airbag-system-and-birds-eye-camera/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/18/only-honda-new-i-srs-airbag-system-and-birds-eye-camera/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



What other automaker would spend the time and expense of developing a new airbag just because, you know, airbags could be better? The same one who developed a new rail car for the same reason. The Japanese automaker has developed a new airbag it claims will give drivers better protection in accidents. The shaped bag uses a spiral seam to induce more even inflation, which provides a larger surface area and creates uniform pressure around the bag more quickly than in a conventional airbag system. Thus, the driver is cushioned sooner. The i-SRS system also uses a gas release valve that helps control airbag deployment and pressure, and holds the gas inside the bag until a preset time. The technology is already slated to appear on the Honda Life in Japan this November.

Outside the vehicle, Honda will be adding a new multi-view camera to the upcoming JDM Odyssey, much like Nissan's Around View Monitor. Four wide-angle CCD cameras will be placed in the front, back, and on the side mirrors. Each view can be seen individually or combined for a computer generated aerial shot of the car's movements. Because they're wide angle, Honda has also incorporated a view with the front camera that extends the driver's line of sight in low-visibility intersections, such as when exiting a parking garage (see right pic). It sounds similar to the front-mounted camera system on the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Unfortunately there's no word on when either technology will come to the U.S. Thanks for the tip, phaedra!

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Only Honda: New i-SRS Airbag System and Bird's Eye camera

Only Honda: New i-SRS Airbag System and Bird's Eye camera originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagairbagshonda i-srshonda isrshonda lifehonda odysseyHondaI-srsHondaIsrsHondaLifeHondaOdysseyi-srsisrsjapanjapanese marketJapaneseMarketjdmmultiview cameraMultiviewCameraodysseyrear view cameraRearViewCamerasafetytechThu, 18 Sep 2008 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyoda proves you can never have enough airbags]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/toyoda-proves-you-can-never-have-enough-airbags/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/toyoda-proves-you-can-never-have-enough-airbags/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/toyoda-proves-you-can-never-have-enough-airbags/#commentsFiled under: , ,



First came driver airbags, then passenger airbags. Side airbags were followed by curtain airbags. Then knee airbags appeared. With many vehicles on the road already equipped with six or more airbags for passenger safety, and seemingly no interior room left for additional inflatable supplemental restraints, Toyoda Gosei (it's an offshoot of Toyota) is showing a prototype fitted with airbags designed to protect pedestrians--yes, those "innocent victims" outside the vehicle. With a large exterior airbag on each end of the hood (one for the initial hit on the thigh, the other to cushion the secondary skull impact), and even an airbag inside the rear hatch, Toyoda Gosei is touting the concept as having "360-degree airbag protection." Effective or not, we question why the responsibility of pedestrian safety is shifting from the traveler on foot to the driver behind the wheel. Can't we just teach people to stay out of the the street? Thanks for the tip, Diego!

[Source: technabob]

Toyoda proves you can never have enough airbags originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AirbagsMultiple airbagsMultipleAirbagspedestrianToyodaToyoda GoseiToyodaGoseiFri, 06 Jun 2008 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Dutch cyclists want airbags installed on the outside of cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/dutch-cyclists-want-airbags-installed-on-the-outside-of-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/dutch-cyclists-want-airbags-installed-on-the-outside-of-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/dutch-cyclists-want-airbags-installed-on-the-outside-of-cars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Due to the continuing evolution of safety standards, high speed car-on-car impacts have made life better for everyone inside the cars. Now, even pedestrians get love from some car makers in the form of hoods that pop up when the car senses a pedestrian impact, so that the walker doesn't hit the engine block. Now, the Dutch Cycling Federation wants to know: what about us? The federation is asking for exterior airbags to protect cyclists in collisions with cars.

In a country where getting around by bike is the done thing, the federation estimates that external airbags on cars could save 60 cyclists and eliminate 1,500 serious injuries every year. The airbags they have in mind would be mounted on the hoods, which is where cyclists usually end up.

In case you're thinking "There's no way...", the Swedish company Autoliv Inc. has created an air bag that deploys from the A-pillars and extends over the hood to keep people from crashing down onto the engine block. It strikes us as a bit nutty to think that one day our cars could turn into giant bubbles to protect everyone everywhere in an accident, but hey, if it saves lives....

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Dutch cyclists want airbags installed on the outside of cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagairbagsautolivautolivalvcyclistcyclistdeathcyclistshollandTue, 22 Apr 2008 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[*POOF* No injuries! - Dainese D-Air suit latest in motorcycle airbag technology]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/24/poof-no-injuries-motorcycle-airbag-suit/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/24/poof-no-injuries-motorcycle-airbag-suit/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/24/poof-no-injuries-motorcycle-airbag-suit/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above to view video

Motorcycles always have that ever-present danger of turning their operators into hamburger should the rider take a spill. Racing crashes are especially nasty, and while leathers do offer protection from road rash, cushioning impacts to the upper torso is key to increasing survivability. Dainese, a manufacturer of cycling equipment, has been working on an airbag system to help riders avoid injury called the D-Air suit. The system relies on accelerometers and gyroscopic sensors embedded in the suit, and when a computer determines there's a need, an upper-body airbag is deployed in less than a half a second. It looks like a similar, although much more complicated design, than the Airbag Jacket by Impact Jackets, which has already saved at least one life that we know about. Of course, this would all be avoidable if people didn't insist on climbing onto a powerful engine supported by the minimum of wheels and zooming around at the highest possible velocity, but what fun is that? Check out video of the Dainese D-Air suit after the jump.

[Source: Winding Road]

Continue reading *POOF* No injuries! - Dainese D-Air suit latest in motorcycle airbag technology

*POOF* No injuries! - Dainese D-Air suit latest in motorcycle airbag technology originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagairbag jacketAirbagJacketairbagsmotorcyclemotorcycle accidentmotorcycle crashmotorcycle racingMotorcycleAccidentMotorcycleCrashMotorcycleRacingmotorcyclesmotorsportsmotorsports safetyMotorsportsSafetyracingracing safetyRacingSafetysafetyMon, 24 Mar 2008 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese man crashes Mercedes S350, vows to only drive Chinese-built cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/chinese-man-crashes-mercedes-s350-vows-to-only-drive-chinese-bu/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/chinese-man-crashes-mercedes-s350-vows-to-only-drive-chinese-bu/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/chinese-man-crashes-mercedes-s350-vows-to-only-drive-chinese-bu/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Car accidents inspiring bouts of nationalism aren't all that new. However, this could be the shakiest case of it that we've heard of recently. Wang Zhan, the Chinese owner of a Mercedes S350, rear-ended a DongFeng van. In spite of the rather severe damage done to the car, the airbags didn't deploy, and Zhan and his daughter had to make a trip to the hospital. When the medication wore off, Mr. Zhan knew immediately what he needed to do: hold a press conference and announce that he'd only be buying Chinese goods for the rest of his life.

Based on the damage, it looks like he was doing some serious speed when it happened, and it's clear that the airbags should have deployed. Mr. Zhan said Mercedes never gave him a satisfactory answer as to why they didn't. Still, it happens, and we can imagine a number of other vehicles in which such an accident would have prevented Zhan from doing anything else, ever -- like, oh, some models from China. And we wouldn't mind knowing how the DongFeng van fared. Yet while we all know this never would have happened in a Geely, we might recommend that Zhan perhaps try something from Sweden first...

[Source: Winding Road]

Chinese man crashes Mercedes S350, vows to only drive Chinese-built cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentsairbagschinamercedeswang zhanWangZhanTue, 01 Jan 2008 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Newspaper says 1,400 deaths blamed on bad airbags]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/22/newspaper-says-1-400-deaths-blamed-on-bad-airbags/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/22/newspaper-says-1-400-deaths-blamed-on-bad-airbags/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/22/newspaper-says-1-400-deaths-blamed-on-bad-airbags/#commentsFiled under:

How much do you trust your car's airbag to protect you? When you get through reading what the Kansas City Star has to say about them, they may no longer seem as trustworthy.

The paper cites several horrifying stories about head-on crashes in which the airbags failed to deploy and occupants died. After crunching numbers on thousands of fatal crashes, the paper's staff found a surprising number of deaths that might be blamed on faulty airbags. But the project went further and eliminated any that might be questionable and ended up with what the story calls a "conservative" estimate. If their methodology is correct, at least 1,400 people died from 2001 to 2006 in frontal crashes when their cars' airbags did not inflate at all.

While that number is disturbing, what we find more troubling is the paper's tales of investigations into faulty airbags that seem to drag on forever before a recall is issued, in at least one case, allowing more fatalities. And don't think your car is exempt. The story says all manufacturers have had reports of defective airbags.

These findings should not just scare, but also remind everyone not to count on airbags alone and reinforce the wisdom of buckling up.

Oh, by the way: before commenting that this is nothing but a sensationalistic story to sell papers, read the articles. These guys did tons of research and talked to former and current NHTSA employees, then produced a series of what read like balanced, level-headed journalism.

[Source: The Kansas City Star]

Newspaper says 1,400 deaths blamed on bad airbags originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbag fatalatiesAirbagFatalatiesairbagsfaulty airbagsFaultyAirbagsMon, 22 Oct 2007 11:03:00 EST<![CDATA[NHTSA mandates head protection on all cars by 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/05/nhtsa-mandates-head-protection-on-all-cars-by-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/05/nhtsa-mandates-head-protection-on-all-cars-by-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/05/nhtsa-mandates-head-protection-on-all-cars-by-2013/#commentsFiled under: ,

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced today that by 2013, all passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. will be required to provide head protection in side-impact crashes.

The regulation comes after three years of research, which found that about 29-percent, or 9,200 people, were killed in crashes resulting from side impacts. However, the auto industry as a whole has agreed to install side airbags on all vehicles by September 2009.

NHTSA's full press release is available after the jump.

[Source; NHTSA]

Continue reading NHTSA mandates head protection on all cars by 2013

NHTSA mandates head protection on all cars by 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013airbagsnational highway traffic safety administrationNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationnhtsaside crashside impactside-crashside-impactSideCrashSideImpactWed, 05 Sep 2007 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[CarFax begins offering airbag deployment info for free]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/07/carfax-begins-offering-airbag-deployment-info-for-free/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/07/carfax-begins-offering-airbag-deployment-info-for-free/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/07/carfax-begins-offering-airbag-deployment-info-for-free/#commentsFiled under: ,

Many used car buyers are completely unaware that their airbags might not deploy in the event of an accident. There are a few reasons for this, but the most prevalent is a scam in which a car that's experienced a previous collision has had its deployed airbag improperly replaced, sometimes with stolen airbag units from other cars and sometimes with nothing more than stuff like packing peanuts or whatever else was lying around the shop.

Being that Carfax offers a service attempting to expose every little detail about a car's history that's available, the company has decided to release information about a car's airbag deployment history for free. The new service doesn't appear to be available from the home page by entering a candidate car's VIN number, but rather from this separate page. We tested it out with a few VINs culled from Autotrader and have yet to find one with an active deployment history. On the other hand, Carfax admits it doesn't have complete records for every airbag deployment that's ever happened. Nevertheless, the database, while perhaps incomplete, contains useful info for those considering the purchase of a used car that's seen some crunch time.

[Source: Carfax]

Continue reading CarFax begins offering airbag deployment info for free

CarFax begins offering airbag deployment info for free originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 May 2007 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagairbag deploymentAirbagDeploymentairbagscarfaxdeploymentscamused carUsedCarMon, 07 May 2007 19:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Siemens VDO system hears crash, deploys airbag]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/siemens-vdo-system-hears-crash-deploys-airbag/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/siemens-vdo-system-hears-crash-deploys-airbag/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/siemens-vdo-system-hears-crash-deploys-airbag/#commentsFiled under:



The safety-obsessed people over at Siemens VDO have developed a new system that, depending on the noise produced by a crash, will figure out the best way to deploy the airbags.

The Crash Impact Sound Sensor (CISS) is quicker on the draw than other systems (up to 15 milliseconds), and depending on the information it receives from the audio sensors, it can determine where the collision took place and the level of severity. In turn, the only airbags deployed would be the ones necessary to protect the affected passengers.

The system is particularly important to the vertically challenged, who have sustained serious injury when an airbag was deployed unnecessarily.

[Source: Siemens VDO via Autopia]

Siemens VDO system hears crash, deploys airbag originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagsaudibleaudiohearingnoisesiemensVDOFri, 23 Mar 2007 10:27:00 EST<![CDATA[GM plans to equip all models with rollover air bags]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/gm-plans-to-equip-all-models-with-rollover-air-bags/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/gm-plans-to-equip-all-models-with-rollover-air-bags/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/gm-plans-to-equip-all-models-with-rollover-air-bags/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Although rollovers only make up three percent of crashes in the US, they account for over a quarter of all traffic fatalities. General Motors is in the process of investing over $10 million to study the effects of rollover crashes and while doing so, has made a pledge to outfit all their vehicles with rollover-enabled airbags by 2012.

Currently, a little under half of the vehicles sold by GM are equipped with such detection and deployment systems, and although the number of rollover crashes is small in comparison when viewed amidst the majority of crashes, the General thinks that more research is necessary.

[Source: Detroit News]

GM plans to equip all models with rollover air bags originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 06:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagsfatalitiesgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsrolloversuvTue, 05 Dec 2006 06:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes names least safe cars of 2007]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/01/forbes-names-least-safe-cars-of-2007/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/01/forbes-names-least-safe-cars-of-2007/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/01/forbes-names-least-safe-cars-of-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In an obvious effort to keep its readership alive (and in turn circulation numbers up) Forbes magazine has made a list of the least safe cars of 2007. Before the flame wars start, note that cars on the list are not necessarily unsafe, but instead are not as safe as other cars available. Therefore, they are the least safe 2007 model year cars.

Most of the vehicles on the list are there because they don't have standard side air bags. But three -- Saturn's Ion, as well as Suzuki's Aerio and Forenza -- made the cut even with side air bags. To understand why these particular vehicles were named in the article, Forbes outlines its methodology, which includes crash tests, injury claims and the opinions of Consumer Reports' researchers.

The seven models named by Forbes are after the jump.

[Source: Forbes Magazine]

Continue reading Forbes names least safe cars of 2007

Forbes names least safe cars of 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A study by Purdue University states that safety systems like ABS and airbags make drivers less vigilant. Fred Mannering, the professor of civil engineering at the university who led the study, brought his team to the water of five years of motor vehicle crashes in Washington State. The students began studying the collisions beginning in 1992, as that was about when airbags and ABS began to be introduced rapidly into the mainstream auto market.

The study compared the accident rates of 1,307 drivers, of which 271 switched from a vehicle without airbags to a vehicle equipped with them. Mannering states that this 'offset hypotheses' could explain why accident rates for anti-lock braking system-equipped vehicles actually increased when the technology was introduced. Mannering also stated that in his own experience driving his vintage MG roadster he is more cautious. Apparently, he also doesn't accelerate quickly on wet roads because his car doesn't have ABS?!

This report has nothing to do with the safety merits of the technologies themselves, but instead the assumptions on which drivers behaved during an important introduction of a new set of safety improvements. While we might agree that ABS and airbags may have given drivers a false sense of confidence, we would much rather be in an airbag-equipped Miata than an ancient MG if we were expecting to run head on into another object. It's hard not to feel like Mannering is letting his own experience and feelings influence his research, but you didn't hear that here. Additionally, it's probably not valid to make assumptions about the behavior of drivers today based on data that is over ten years old and was acquired during a transition period in safety technology. Furthermore, many safety experts, like NHTSA and IIHS, feel the findings questionable, as well. We encourage you to check out the article yourself at Ward's by following the 'read' link below.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Airbags and ABS under fire originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently completed testing of Audi's newest 'ute and awarded the Q7 five-stars, the highest rating possible, for both front and side crashes. The tests also gave the Q7 a four-star rating for rollover avoidance.

Once again, standard safety equipment reigns supreme, as the Q7 protects its passengers with the required dual-front airbags, but also comes equipped with SideGuard[TM] side-curtain airbags which almost always improve occupant's safety. Rear-side airbags to protect passengers in the 2nd row are also an option.

To thwart the SUV from going greasy-side-up, Audi employs their trademark Quattro AWD, but also installs their Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with roll over detection.

All this puts our mind at ease, knowing that Erin was well equipped to handle the perils of the world during her recent test drive of the Q7. Whew.

[Source: AudiWorld News]

Audi Q7 gets five stars originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Oct 2006 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagsAudiQ7rolloverSat, 14 Oct 2006 07:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Second generation air bags safer for kids, still safe for adults]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/12/university-of-washington-study-shows-airbags-with-reduced-risks/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/12/university-of-washington-study-shows-airbags-with-reduced-risks/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/12/university-of-washington-study-shows-airbags-with-reduced-risks/#commentsFiled under:

Reuters reports that second-generation air bags are less risky for children while still providing appropriate levels of safety for larger adults. The development is a vast improvement upon earlier generation air bags, which were developed to protect an average size male and could be lethal for smaller adults and children.

When cars were equipped with the second-generation air bag in 1998, critics voiced fears that making air bags safer for smaller people necessarily increased risks for larger people. However, data recently gathered in a University of Washington study shows these fears to be unfounded. The second-generation air bags, which deploy with less force and provide other advancements, provide just 10 percent higher risk of death in children over no air bag compared to 66 percent more risk with first-generation air bags.

The moral of the story? Kid-safer air bags aren't offset by higher risk to larger adults.

[Source: Reuters]

Second generation air bags safer for kids, still safe for adults originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Jul 2006 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air bagsAirBagschild-safekidssafetyWed, 12 Jul 2006 18:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari F430 Modena won't be bagged in the U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/23/ferrari-f430-modena-wont-be-bagged-in-the-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/23/ferrari-f430-modena-wont-be-bagged-in-the-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/23/ferrari-f430-modena-wont-be-bagged-in-the-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Whew, that was a scary moment for the big wigs at Ferrari. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration almost cost Ferrari $53 million in sales of its F430 Modena by attempting to implement a ban on the vehicle because it does not meet airbag safety requirements that protect children and small women in the event of an accident.

Ferrari successfully petitioned NHTSA to exempt the Modena from the requirement, making the argument that very few small women and almost no children ride in Ferraris.

[Source: Automotive News via AutoWeek]

Ferrari F430 Modena won't be bagged in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 May 2006 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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