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Do Airbags Really Help? Researchers Are Not Convinced
A Purdue University research team that studied five years of motor vehicle accidents in Washington State concludes antilock brakes and airbags don't minimize accidents or injuries because those systems may encourage more aggressive driving.

Fred Mannering, a Purdue professor of civil engineering, led the study. The results, which are bound to be controversial with auto makers and safety experts, say the innovations designed to improve safety also make drivers less vigilant. Mannering calls this behavior “offset hypotheses.”

He notes that when ABS debuted, insurance companies said accident rates actually increased for vehicles equipped with the systems that prevent wheels from locking up while braking.

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Do Airbags Really Help? Researchers Are Not Convinced



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EL34iEL34i - 10/19/2006 10:24:02 AM
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I disagree, I was in a head-on collision a couple years back, and the only thing that saved my life was the airbag of my car. I have been posting intelligent commentary to message boards ever since.

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETSI95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/19/2006 1:24:15 PM
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I Also Disagree
I hit a tree in 1999 in a vehicle with no Airbags (HeadOn Collision)
and the result was My Head Destroying the Windshield and leaving me with some Really Bad Scars.
Been in a couple more Accidents since then in Vehicles with Airbags and Guess What ?? Not A Damm Scratch

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETSI95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/19/2006 7:25:34 PM
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LOL :)


bubbahotepbubbahotep - 10/19/2006 1:31:18 PM
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I just wonder what these researchers think is a better alternative....


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phantom330phantom330 - 10/19/2006 1:38:35 PM
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An airbag also saved my life in a bad car accident, I'm convinced if the airbag didn't go off I wouldn't be around. I'll take having one over not having one any day of the week.

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webguywebguy - 10/19/2006 3:00:27 PM
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Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, terms the findings "ridiculous."

I would have to agree with Russ...

Exhibit A, From the Study: "He notes that when ABS debuted, insurance companies said accident rates actually increased for vehicles equipped with the systems..."

So... when ABS came out, more cars with ABS were involved in accidents. You’re kidding? Is there a feature you couldn’t apply the same logic to? When air conditioning came out, more cars with air conditioning were involved in accidents. So cool air would then be unsafe and cause people to drive wrecklessly.

Exhibit B, From the Study: "He also cites his own experience to back up the study's conclusions. When he drives his vintage MG roadster, he doesn't tailgate or accelerate quickly on wet roads because the car doesn't have ABS or airbags."

I really shouldn’t even validate this as an argument with a response... but by that logic, a motorcycle would be the safest vehicle on the road.

Completely asinine study.


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stonestone - 10/19/2006 3:18:16 PM
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I disagree as well, airbags saved my life this past April, I was run off the road and hit a telephone pole at at least 45-55 mph. I had numerous injuries but police, paramedics, drs all agree, that I would not be here to type this today had it not been for my car's airbag........


Stone

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mstangpny07mstangpny07 - 10/19/2006 5:20:52 PMView My AgentSpace
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What kind of cars were you all in?

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETSI95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/19/2006 7:24:35 PM
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Serious Crashes ( Non of Which is due to Bad Driving by Myself )

First Crash: 1993 Golf GTI conv (VW RABBIT conv)
Next; 1999 BMW 328i sedan

Then: 2002 Lincoln LS V8


lexusis350lexusis350 - 10/19/2006 5:44:17 PM
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Scientists of course are going to say airbags don't work. Has anyone noticed that there is always several scientists who are out to prove the world wrong. Of course air bags save lives. My friend is a Driver Ed. teacher and those videos are proof that they are a necessity in cars.

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themantheman - 10/19/2006 5:49:02 PM
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Was Mercedes the first to offer Airbags?

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mbrulesmbrules - 10/19/2006 7:19:54 PM
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theman - you are an imbecile. obviously you are a fag*ot, who is so insecure about HERSELF the you have to adopt the name "theman". Why don't you go and take a flee dip "bitch".

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETSI95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/19/2006 7:28:00 PM
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Damm !!!!!! mbrules

Chill

He only asked a Question, Nothing Wrong With That.


kablaamkablaam - 10/19/2006 8:53:32 PM
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This article contradicts every major insurance industry and govt study conducted(not including many personal experiences of many on this board, including myself) in the past decade. Insurance companies would love for airbags to increase accidents = higher premiums.

Quote from NHTSA - "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that airbags installed in automobiles have saved some 10,000 lives as of January 2004."

Point is, airbags save lives. Notice they did not report road fatalities (per mile driven) during the past 4 decades. That is because it has decreased dramatically. "The chances of dying in an automobile accident in 1953 was four times greater than in 2003, based on fatalities per mile driven in the United States."

Granted, people may view these technologies as life-lines and become even more aggressive, as opposed to not having these technologies, but can you seriously and intelligently blame these technologies for causing increased accidents. It's stupid drivers who cause stupid accidents.

These liberals love to blame every-one/thing else or for their wrong doings.

2 words to reduce accidents, Slow Down(and if all else fails, trust your handy airbag,PAX airbag, Side Airbag and curtain airbags to help reduce the impact).

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mbrulesmbrules - 10/19/2006 9:22:23 PM
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195SPEEDINGTICKETS - Unlike you who makes intelligent comments in your posts, "theman" & "BMW530i" make idiotic remarks and I have a war of words going on with them. Mercedes are my favourite but they have disappointed lately. I also rcognise at the same time that Lexus produce some great cars and on occasions have done better the MB. But "theman" & "BMW530i" in their bigoted mindset always put Lexus down without logic and reasoning.

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themantheman - 10/20/2006 6:10:14 AM
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Again Shut the F*** Up with your bullshit, we know you dont like Mercs, we KNOW...Finish, end of story, you have posted the same thing over and over again...


chewychewy - 10/19/2006 10:30:13 PMView My AgentSpace
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I think those seat belts encourage some rough driving, we should ban them immediately.

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KostikKostik - 10/20/2006 5:08:34 AMView My AgentSpace
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Well, despite the fact that some might say that airbags are useless I am still covinced that they do much more good than actually harm. Especially when the seat belt is used as well!

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Z06loverZ06lover - 10/20/2006 10:22:47 AM
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I don't believe what the insurance companies say. They want to ensure their profits are high, so they are going to argue that despite the advent of ABS, air bags etc... vehicle accidents have increased. There is no denial in my books that these safety features work with each other to ensure safety.

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Autoegr525Autoegr525 - 10/20/2006 3:25:26 PM
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yea i think the steering wheel is a much better surface to smash your head against than a bag of air. Good study, you should get a prize. Eliminate air bags and abs, and while your at it, tempered glass as well. No one will speed if they know they'll be sliced to shreds by jagged glass if they crash. There would be no more accidents!

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