Airbags

[Guest guest]

Freeman has been extolling the virtues of side

airbags for years. Here is some current information

which supports 's position.

DeSiena

Airbags make a difference in side crash tests

By Ken , Associated Press 3-6-2006

WASHINGTON — The 2006 Ford Fusion received poor marks

in offering motorists' protection in side crashes,

according to test results released Sunday by the

insurance industry.

Without side air bags, the Ford Fusion performed

poorly.

IIHS

The Fusion, a midsize sedan starting at $17,795,

received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's

lowest mark on side-impact tests conducted on a model

without optional side air bags. On frontal crash

tests, the Fusion received the institute's second-best

mark of acceptable. (Related: On Deadline blog)

" Nearly every car now earns good ratings in our

frontal test, " says Lund, the institute's

president. He says the Fusion was not competitive with

other cars in its class and was the " lowest-rated

moderately priced midsize car we've evaluated. "

The test results also apply to the 2006 Mercury Milan,

the Fusion's corporate twin.

Ford spokesman Dan Jarvis said side air bags and side

curtain bags would be standard on 2007 models, built

after September. The automaker has requested

additional front and side-impact testing for a model

with the air-bag option, which costs an additional

$595.

" We expect it will earn higher side-impact test

ratings with that standard equipment, " Jarvis said.

The institute released test ratings for eight new or

redesigned midsize and luxury cars. The 2006 BMW 3

series and Lexus IS were considered the best overall

performers in the group, receiving top ratings in both

front and side testing.

Test results for the 2006 Pontiac G6 showed the

importance of side air bags. A G6 model with optional

front and rear curtain air bags and front seat-mounted

torso air bags received the second-highest score of

acceptable.

A G6 version tested without the side air bag package,

an option that costs $695, received the lowest mark of

poor. Both versions received top scores in frontal

tests.

Bob Lange, GM's executive director of vehicle

structure and safety integration, said the performance

of the G6 sedan without side air bags " is competitive

with other midsize sedans without side-impact

protection. "

Lund said the performance of the G6 was " dramatically

better " than its predecessor, the Pontiac Grand Am. In

past testing, a 1999 Grand Am received the lowest mark

on frontal tests.

The institute said the 2006 Hyundai Sonata showed

improvement over previous versions, receiving the top

score in frontal tests and the second-highest mark for

side-impact tests.

Sonata models built from 1995-1998 had received a poor

rating in frontal protection and the 1999-2005 models

received poor ratings in side crash protection.

Among other newly tested vehicles, the 2006 Acura TSX

and Infiniti G35 received the second-highest mark of

acceptable in the side tests. Both had received top

marks in previous frontal tests.

In the institute's frontal-crash test, vehicles strike

a barrier on the driver's side at 40 mph. In the

side-impact test, vehicles are struck with a barrier

moving at 31 mph to reflect the force of a pickup or

sport-utility vehicle.

Dr. DeSiena, D.C.

Washington Street Chiropractic Center, L.L.C.

771 Washington Street

Eugene, OR 97401

(541) 686-BACK (2225)

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