FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 1997 SB 97-04
NTSB TO SPONSOR FORUM ON AIR BAGS AND CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY
Washington, D.C. - Air bags and child passenger safety will be the topics
at a public forum in Washington to be convened by the National Transportation
Safety Board in March.
In announcing the forum, NTSB Chairman Jim Hall, noting the reports
of air bag-related fatalities, particularly involving children, and rising
public confusion and concern, said "it is time to set out the facts"
on this issue. "Properly designed and utilized air bags can save lives,"
Hall stated, "but we need to ensure that air bags protect rather than
pose a threat to children and persons of smaller stature." Hall noted
that about 30 million cars with airbags that are not safe for some people
are currently on the roads.
The NTSB forum will bring together recognized experts from government,
industry, and safety/consumer groups to share information on the role of
air bags in today's vehicles, the benefits and safety concerns, and improvements
in child passenger transportation for the future.
Chairman Hall expressed the hope that, in addition to providing useful
information to the public, the forum would help the Safety Board determine
what further recommendations are needed to improve air bags and child passenger
safety.
The forum will be held on March 17-20, at the Renaissance Mayflower
Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
The NTSB has long been concerned about vehicle occupant protection and
has made numerous recommendations in its 30-year history regarding the
design of seatbelts and child restraint systems, the enactment of mandatory
restraint use laws, and the need to increase public education about the
importance of restraint use. The Board's most recent study on these topics
(September1996) resulted in a series of recommendations for improvement
in the design of air bags, child restraint systems, and vehicle back seats.
The NTSB is an independent federal agency created by Congress to oversee
and promote transportation safety. The Board fulfills its mission through
the investigation of accidents, the conduct of safety studies and, ultimately,
through the formulation of safety recommendations.
###
Media Contact: Paul Schlamm (202) 314 - 6100
This press release and other NTSB information are available on the World
wide Web: http://www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Home | Contact Us | Search | About the NTSB | Policies and Notices | Related Sites