Ford to Introduce New Air Bag Technology for Side-Impact Collisions

Strategic Insights -

Ford Motor Company is working to introduce a new air bag technology that will help protect occupants in side-impact collisions. This technology, a combination head-and-chest air bag, is expected to be introduced across all Ford cars and light trucks in Europe and North America within the next two years. The new air bag will be particularly effective in providing additional protection in side-impact collisions involving hitting a tree, pole, or high-hooded vehicle, which can be more severe than front-end crashes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ford is working with leading air bag suppliers to develop the new technology for front-seat applications.
  • The new air bag, a combination head-and-chest air bag, is expected to provide dramatic reductions in head injury criteria (HIC) in side-impact collisions.
  • The HIC value dropped from 4,159 to 482 with the combination air bag, indicating a significant reduction in head injuries.
  • Ford already leads in crashworthiness in frontal collisions according to U.S. government test data.
  • Ford vehicles earn the highest performance ratings of any manufacturer in U.S. government tests that measure aspects of a vehicle's safety in serious front-end collisions.
  • Over 15,000 fatal or serious injuries occur each year due to head injuries from side impacts in the U.S.
  • Ford has conducted over 100 computer simulation crashes evaluating the new technology's effectiveness.
  • The company expects the new air bag to be particularly effective in side-impact collisions involving hitting a tree, pole, or high-hooded vehicle.
  • Ford already leads in installing dual air bags, with driver- and passenger-side air bags standard on every car line since the 1995 model year.

Statistics:

  • Over 15,000 fatal or serious injuries occur each year due to head injuries from side impacts in the U.S.
  • The most severe side-impact crashes often involve hitting a tree, pole, or high-hooded vehicle, which can be more severe than front-end crashes.
  • The combination head-and-chest air bag reduced the HIC value from 4,159 to 482, indicating a significant reduction in head injuries.
  • Ford already leads in crashworthiness in frontal collisions according to U.S. government test data.
  • Over 11 million Ford vehicles in North America today have driver-side air bags, and more than 9,000,000 have passenger-side air bags.

Sources:

  • PR Newswire, "Ford Motor Company Announces Plans for New Air Bag Technology" (Nov. 28, 1995)
  • U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) test data through the 1995 model year.