AIRBAG statistics

•Over 163 million (72.8 %) of the more than 224 million cars and light trucks on U.S. roads have driver airbags. Over 144 million (64.2 %) of these also have passenger airbags. Another 1 million new vehicles with airbags are being sold each month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 18,319 people are alive today because of their airbags.

• Deaths in frontal crashes are reduced about 26 percent among drivers using safety belts and about 32 percent among drivers without belts. Starting with the 1998 model year, airbags typically deploy with less force. Research shows that, overall, drivers of these vehicles still are provided full protection in frontal crashes. Driver death rates are estimated to be 6 percent lower in 1998 and 1999 model passenger vehicles, compared with 1997 models.