GM Puts Airbag Safety Front and Center - Literally.

[AF News Desk]

As the technology in vehicles advances, so do efforts to improve the quality of safety implements within them. That’s where GM comes in with the announcement today of their center airbag technology.

The bags will deploy from the front driver and passenger seats and are meant to protect in the event of side-impact crashes.

The story from AutomotiveNews:

Originally Posted by By Rick Kranz – Automotive News, 9/29/11

GM to offer airbag between front seats for side-impact protection


GM and Japanese supplier Takata Corp.
developed the airbag over a three-year period. Photo credit: GM

DETROIT – General Motors plans to offer a center airbag between the front seats that is designed to protect the driver and front passenger in side-impact crashes.

The airbag is on the right side of the driver's seat and inflates between the front seats during a side-impact crash.

The airbag will be introduced on the 2013 Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse crossovers. It will be standard on all Enclaves, and on Acadia and Traverse models with power seats.

Side-impact crashes accounted for 11 percent of the belted front occupant fatalities in nonrollover impacts between 2004 and 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's fatality analysis reporting system database. The impacts involved 1999 model or newer vehicles.

GM said fatalities in which the occupant is on the nonstruck side of the vehicle represent 29 percent of all the belted front occupant fatalities in side impacts.

"The front center airbag is not required by federal regulation, and no other airbag in passenger vehicles today offers the type of restraint and cushioning this airbag is designed to provide for front occupants," said Scott Thomas, senior staff engineer in GM's advanced restraint systems, in a statement.

GM and Japanese supplier Takata Corp. developed the airbag over a three-year period.

"The front center airbag has real potential to save lives in side crashes," Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said in a statement. "GM and Takata are to be commended for taking the lead in this important area."

Here is a video of the new technology:

[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]

This looks to be a very positive step forward for vehicle safety that has traditionally offered airbags for front-impacts.

While there are side-impact airbags offered in many models out there today, often times they are to prevent impact with the windows and door frames instead of protecting the driver from being thrown around the front cabin.

This kind of airbag has a lot of potential to save many lives.

Here’s to hoping it works out well.

[Johnnyx1257]

that's actually a really good idea. I can't believe it took so long for this