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Nearly 54 million cars and trucks in the United States are equipped with driver side air bags located in the center of the steering wheel. 24 million also have a passenger-side device located in the dashboard. Air bags are designed to protect against sudden, fierce frontal highway impacts.
Five years ago evidence of serious air-bag injuries began to surface. Drivers in minor fender benders suffered severe eye and ear injuries, broken bones and third-degree burns from the force of the inflating bags. In December 1991 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advised parents to avoid putting rear-facing infant sets in front of air bags, acknowledging that the force of the explosive bag could harm infants, whose heads were only inches away from the devices.
Last October it was determined that all children 12 and under were more susceptible to injury and death than adults; their more fragile bodies were seated lower, increasing the impact of the air bag to the head area. In addition, more children were not properly restrained or were out of position when the air bag inflated. On November 22, 1996, after nearly 60 deaths and thousands of injuries were attributed to the devices, the NHTSA mandated improved labels for all new vehicles, warning of the risk to children under 13. Despite these problems, officials stress the overall effectiveness of these devices. “All in all, air bags work well and are responsible for an 11 percent reduction in driver fatalities,” says NHTSA Administrator Dr. Ricardo Martinez. “First and foremost, make sure you’re properly buckled up before getting on the road,” says Brain O’Neill, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Keep in mind how close you sit to an air bag. Push seats as far back as possible, remaining just close enough to control the pedals. Your face and torso should be at least ten to 12 inches from the steering column. “It’s not a bad idea actually to measure the distance with a ruler to be sure.” adds O’Neill.
Adjustable steering wheels should be pointed toward the chest rather than the head to prevent inflating bag from damaging the face or neck. Also, position hands at nine o’clock and three o’clock on the wheel to keep your arms away from an opening air bag.
Pregnant women in particular should keep their abdomen as distant from the air bag as possible. In the final trimester, women should point adjustable steering wheels upward, away from their fetus.
Perhaps most important, children 12 and under should always ride in the back seat, buckled up.
1 From the passage, we learned that ____.
A) there are 24 million cars and trucks in the United States
B) there are 78 million cars and trucks in the United States
C) there are 24 million cars and trucks equipped with air-bags in the United States
D) there are 78 million cars and trucks equipped with air-bags in the United States
2 The air bags are ____.
A) safety devices which can protect people from being hurt during highway accidents
B) unsafe devices which hurt many people
C) safety devices which saved 11% American drivers
D) safety devices but need to be improved
3 The air-bag is located in the center of the steering wheel, so you should ____.
A) keep in mind how close you sit to an air bag
B) push the front seat as far back as possible, remaining just close enough to control the pedal
C) keep your face and torso at least 10 to 12 inches from the steering column
D) all of the above
4 Adjustable steering wheels should ____.
A) be pointed toward the chest rather than the head
B) be driven at 9 o clock
C) be driven at 3 o clock
D) keep your arms away from an opening air bag
5 The air bag is a good safety device, but children 12 and under should always ride in the back seat buckled up means ____.
A) air bags are no good for children
B) air bags are only good for the parents who have more than 12 children
C) the best position for children to ride a car is in the back seat and be buckled up
D) the front seat is unsafe for young people
