AIR BAG DEVTI.OPMENT AND fiCIINOTOGY - "^ -..

AIR BAG DEVTI.OPMENT AND fiCIINOTOGY - "^ -.. 

HEARING 

BEN'ORE :TIIIO 

COtrIMITTEE ON COMMERCE 

UI{ITED STATES S]II{AI]II 

NINETY-THIHD CONGITE,qS 

FIRST SIXSSION 

ON 

AIR BAG DEVT)IJOF}IICNT AND TACIINOT'OGY 

AI]GUST 1, 1T}73 

Serial No. 93*43 

Printed for the use of the Comnrittee on Cornmerce 

U.S. GOVER,NMENf, FRINTING OFFICE 

38{80 WASHINGTON : 197$ 

I

J0IIN O, PASTORE, Rhotle Island 

YAN(lll IIAlitI{E, Indinnn 

III{TLII} .{. lI-A,l{'lr, \lichigfln 

HL}W.,\RI) \ry. CANN(lN, Nevflda 

nUSSllIT, R. L(JN(;, L(lulFJiana, 

FnANK It. M0SS, trlflh 

llfii\US'I Ir. HOT,T,TN$S. South Carollnfl 

DAr\IniL I{. IN(]llYll, IIawEti 

JOIIN V. llt];'\rlf l'lY, Cfl.lil'ornla 

ADLAI E. l$lfllYlrlNflOr\ III, Illlnole 

"'qrFilfy 

C()MMITTEIX ON COI\IMI'IIOtrI 

WARREN G, MA(iNUSON, Wflshltrgton, Chairfidn 

NORn,IS COI'TON, Nerv lldmpshlrs 

JAMIIS B. PIIAIiS0N, I{unsrs 

ROB.lliRT F. CIiII,'I'IN, Mi(:hlgan 

II(]\TA]tD II. ll.Al{.[ijlt, JIr., I'cnncssee 

I{AIiL()W W. COOIi, .t(entu(:lry 

I'Ull S'r'-[i.]VilNS, Arir $ka 

J. (.,lLllNN Ili,):\LL, JH., Xfarylftud 

IrRHDDnrc$ J. Lonn,tr, gtd,ll Dlreator 

MrcrrAsl PbrrTscHlJK, ChieJ Couilscl 

Enwtnrr IJ. Coril)N, FrttJoauiontt( EtatJ l[cmbef 

AfrHUIt I'ANIioFF, Ir., M,irtor,it11 8Lo[J n'tt'$Etor 

IlALcor,M M, B. Sronnurt, trlinoritll HIUII Counsal

CONTENTS 

Operring stflternent by Senator llartke------ 

LISI' O}' \YITNI]SSES 

Potter, lV, Keller, vice presiderrt, l'ubllc Affairs and Sflfety, Allstate fnsrrrlncc 

Ct).; nccoilrpsllied by Jnck ll'tees, vice presitlcnt flnd ehief ftctuary; 

Jircl< J\Iurten$, dir(xitor, autourotire elgillt'erirlg; Pltlllip Spivltli, lire 

chi0l', St:herervilkr, Iud,; IiaIDL \Y()rst'y, antl Johtr trlnlh0yt, oliicer', U.S. 

I'trk I'olit:e-- 

Stcrest, Ilr.etl, exeCutiVe ViCe prer,i(leul, Ir0rtl Ilrttor Cl.), i nCCOrrtpr'tnietl by 

Fltlrlrur-t L. i\lisclt, vice Irrsid(,nt, etrTirotitntttltnl flll(l srll'oty ellHirleeling;John 

O, Ii)c:ltholtl, dirtrt()r', itutoutr.ttivt siiftty ttllitc;lttttl Don;tlrl G, 

trIc(luiga.rr. ir rtorncl------ 

Stlrlimirrr, Itrue$1, r-i{je l)r'esi(lent jirl {-lertt'r'itl }[olors etrvirllrlrrrenti{I ttctivitirs 

str.rlll ; tlccorrll)iuriL+d lry Irottis C, f,utr

AIR BAG DEYIITOP]IIENT AND TECHNOIOGY 

WEDNESDAY. AUGTIST 1' 1S?3 

IJ.S. Snnlrn' 

: foMMrrrnn ow CtllrrunncE, 

Washirtgton, D.C. 

Tho committee met nt $ t30 a.m., in room 5110, Ncw $eilato O{fice 

lluildirrg, Ilotr. Vu.ttce, I-Iu'tke prc$iding. 

OIIENING STATEMENT BY SENATOR EARTKE 

Senator II,,rrtrrtt,l. Thc ltearirrEs will come to ol'dcr. 

illre.t, ht:rlitrgs have lxrcu scl;dlltrd for thc l)qlpose of-henring testimony 

on tlrt: slatus of lrir bag technoiop5y and tltrvcloprrrelt. For 

r(:rrsi)rrs tlrat I will elaborate in jilsl fl Inomelnt, lve ilrc at a crucill stage 

in thc develolrmcnt of the ail bag svstem. 

\\re have tr,sscrnbletl here this rnoming mftny of tltosc who a-r'e primtrilv 

involvccl in detelrnililg Goverfrilent and industr.y.,policy on 

rril lrrigs. \\'e lrrrve illso itlyittil rvit;resses who are thc Lrerrt:ficiaries of 

air bag.technologV-the "tton-victirrts" of air-bag-ulrripped vohiclcs 

involvecl in trttuirl ilcci(lents. 

our l-il'st witiless is n[r. James lMilson, the Acting Aclministrntor of 

tho \-rrtionai l{ig}rrvnv 'llrallic SaIctv Arlrninistnrt,ion and two of his 

a,ssociatcs. Ir,:dciil llotor Vt:liir:le Sufety Staudard 208, us prolllulgil,ted, 

would rerluir:c ft plssiyc restrftilt systeln, Such lrs an lil iLag,to 

ijc installecl in ail rnotorl vr:hicles by rnodril veari 1976. It i,s sort of lilis 

tlre Ilcrkrrtl buclget. ft t:ornes rr year in trrivnnce. Alrd the iluto yeer 

10?6 lx+gins in L9?5, fls v()u all l

2 

hicles on the road and, frankly, T am eneourflFed with their performttrlce 

to drtu. rn over il4 millibir rnilr:s rccrrmiriat,ccl lly these-vr:hirles, 

tltere hnve been 29,1-r accidcnttr,l collisions bclorv rleplciyment ]cvels in 

which thc air bags rlicl not, inflrrte r)r'or)er'ly. rn rrll. iht'.re have bcon 12 

crilshes sevol'e eniltElt for the Lragsio rlopliry rvJrile thcrc hnve txlen no 

fnilnles to fi'e on clenrrlrrcl. Thelo'hns llec'rr orie inadvcrtent rk:pJo.yrnerrt. 

Atrlstate, tl vigorous ftdv{)urte of thc air, [rng. hlrs agleecl to providc 

_thc c'rrunittee with a summrrly of the *e*idsits in rviiich the dir hngs 

have clcployerl. We will also irenr: lilorn Chief Philirr Spivlk of tiie 

sehererville, r'cl. polico depa'trnent, antl l\fr. ttalph \Torlsev nnd oificer 

John Mallroyt,lach of ivlrom has citha'irrvestigatecl or ircrsonall.y 

tlrivcn un air-birg-etluippeil rrroto* l-elricle which {vns invoivctl in air 

nccidcnt- 

_ Third, reprr,'sentalivas of T)etroit's Big Tlrlee-Chrvsler, Fotd. anrl 

(iencrtrl Motors-ha,ve agrccd to tcstify ttris nrorninq orr thr+ nir-bag 

progr&rn being prrrsued [r.v cach cornpilrrv. JVit]r res-pcct to Goner.rii 

Moiiu's, of lral'ticulrrr intelilst to the comrnittee is a Jurie 22 lctterr: from 

E. li. Colc-to Snrrletrrry l3r'inegar orrtlinins a ne$- GII policv on flir 

lrngs. lt, irclrrlgi116's rr r]elav of tlic 1976 stnrrilrrrcl jrr order'to accommoctratettatt 

ap1'r"opriate pliuseinttolt lril brrg svsferns. Gl\t has nlso rrnnonncerl 

a rltlliry in ils Dlosrlrn to lrrotluce 100.000 car.s blrilt:forthis 

pttr'pose. h*ccdless to $a-v, l'lris r:ornriritie'e is ea51cr {or thosc cirrs to be 

lrrrj]L so thnt we {jfln ftccltrnlrlllhr+ iits mrrr:}r c{a,trt ils possibtre (lrr fl,ir. bil,g 

efficucy. 

- l{'ith re$pect to Ford and Chrvsler, the committee is anxious to 

lenrl rvhab jrlans each may lrnvc iri t'heii'l)rosraln to rler-clotr rrnrt test 

air hn'q syst-crrrs. Ford hri an initirl flcct'of 'test vehir:les ori the load 

now. hrrlt_rreithcr: ]rrrs.rrrlntlrrnr:r'r{ 1111n" to oller air bngs on tny 1074 

enrs. Of inl:rrrest Hlso is rvhat eiTer:i. if anv. thc nevrlv tii'omrrls:rierJ air 

bag sl nnda,rcl lras ol the resca,r'clr rrncl dcvelol)lncnt irlins of Fortl and 

Chr vslcr. r-rntl anv cthcr intexlsterl irrrJ ivic-lurrl's. 

All right, l\{r. lVilson. You rniry proc:crrd. 

STATEI\{ENT OT' JAMES WIISON, ACTING .A,DMINISTRATOR, NA. 

TIOM.I IIIGHWAY TRAI'FIC SAIETY ADMINI$TRATIONI ACC0M- 

?aNrED tsy R0BERI f,. CARIER, ASSoCTATE ADMTNISTRAT0R, 

M0T0R VEHI0LE IROGRAMS; ANI) IAWIiEI{CE SCHNEIDEB, 

CHIEF COUNSEI 

ll'fr. JYrr,som.'lllrank vou verv mrrch. 

I have wiilr rre o,r rn.y riglit Itr'. ltobert Cartcr, As-qociate Aclministrirtor 

for Mor.or Ychicle Plograrns. n,nLl on inv lcft r;tlwrence 

Schncider, the (liricf Cl.unsel Ior t,ho Natio'a,l Flighway T'aific Safety 

Atlniirristrntion. 

Ilr..(lhairrrrirn., f irpprecinte this tlppor:tunity to nppear bcfore this 

cornrrrittcc to tliscrrss rilcleral trfotor \ichicle Sdfety Strrnrlarrl No. g0B, 

which spccilies rr:cluirtrrlents fol or.'cnllant rcstrrrijrt svsterls. llre Iast 

came hefore this conrrnittec on li'ebr.nrriv 21 of tlris vcli'. at which tirne 

lr-c tlirsr:ussed in somc rletail, rrsing sliiltrs ancl lilri, our occupant restllrint 

prugrflrn. 

rn tlie iirterval since Fehrunry 21, the passive restraint flcet test 

cilr'$ hrvc *ccurnulated Innny more mitlioni of road nrilcs. 'Ihe Itold

enrt. which entered serviee last summer, have traveled a total of ovcr 

iE' il'lir i,,i' ^;li;;:"tff 

itM ;;,';'r;ich "r'ere j ust. -r'ntuing service in 

Felrruarv. have accurnu]rrtecl A totrl o{ ovttr 12 trtrllron mlte$. 

'tir:i'JJ-îr;;'il#îili;,J 

i" n, total of t'ure tla' 22ir minor acciderrts-at 

imDact tot,',,-t.iu*is ilio* thc clesigltcl deployrnent levcl of the 

;il"#i,#. Th;-;ir "o.rtiiotrs have not'tlcployrid in thtse lon-level 

accidents. --tftcait 

hooe bcen involved in 12 higher force accidcnts' In etch 

rfli;;:ih"-oir "o=trluti*,i"pilyo.t corriictly.'I'lcro-hns been otre.irtadvertent 

{iring whi(:h clid rrOt rcsult in an r}ccident, \ve are contrrrurng 

t,i.ti"i"fr tlt*-1i*r:tor"toncc of thcse ctrs ancl to (lolxluct intertsive invlstiuations 

of thosc accitlents tSrrt we tleeur a''roltrirrl e-. . . 

To"day. wo rea,ch tI Ilew stngc in tlre rlt.r'eloprrlcllt-of titts pt'.og1Lm 

*iifi "riJ t*st-a.,*tov rcquirelments becomittg efectivc' I-*-orrld like 

i.i t,""-i-".'i.;;' t;illrf ietly, the drvelo''re^ts'oI tle last few rttotrths 

that -_Oriii*"*tiilrcr, havc letl us to tvlterc 11'e ilre toclny. 

t'-r, 1tt?2, thc tJ.S. Cdurt of Appeals forthc Sixth Cir- 

"nit-r,it",.t on pctiiions titca Uy sevcrnl mattufrrct.rrcrs challengirrg the 

valiclitv of sta'nclnttl 208. 

iii* ".sta1cla1cl 

hn4 providetl for three restrailt options dlring the 

periocl ''-illl {rorn August ill of t}ris year to Arrgust Ll'r, 11)75: 

A;;;i;lT,,,trrt'.:r cortltl lilovide f'li''r'otccti'tr in a va.iety of 

crashes - bv fullv lutrtrrtrrtic lneans; 

lJj.-l% *ritA rirrri-itle protection in frontnl crashes by automatic 

mehns --- and sulrlrlt'rrr(:nt tlte iystt:rn rvith rt llp snl'cty belt; 

b;f- ati; iit' c'uld providc safety br:lfs witli & sttu'ter interlock 

systcm. " 

^ft"r" Ausust 15. 1S?5, all care would hrrve hacl to confortn to the 

first olrtion iiy hauing fuily passive plotection at all scats. I'lte court 

i"r,rr"it".rlJld nsurcv?s decisi-orr to refr*i'e passive restrflints' but '.led 

itii,t' ttt* test tlrrirrrir.i thtt rvts to tie risetl t-

4 

, Thc hyliritl Tr rvas frrmili*r to us in nrrurry respetlLs. rt was cornposcd 

largclv ttf cotttllttrtents frorn standanl drimmics rrrlcle bv Aldcrson 

Rescareh Laboratories and the Sierra Engineerint Co. 

11ro began our evaluation of the hybriil rr in .ia.rr.uarv by obtairrins 

trvo dummies from General Motori and shippi'g the.m io Calspat 

Cor'p., for rr, se..ries of performance evalrra,trons. 

f miqht note at tllis point that iust prior to the eourtis clecision 

rpe had-lr_e.eun & new tlrrrnmy__development 'Ilhe 

T)rogra.rn. contractors, 

Gencral lfotors, and Sierra.'Iinginee-r'ing Co., #ere selectecl as having 

subnritted the best_propcsah; irr responselto oirr r.equest for proposnls- 

- The program.called for building dummies in ar.cordance'with performnnce 

criteria that we hnd cleveloperl. ,r\,lthoush theso contractg 

wele cxpcctetl to pr:orirrce urteful r:csrrlti, rve lrncw il would tn,lre. somo 

time, to complete-the contr:aets antl the necessnry follow-on testins 

ancl irnPlt:rnerrtation nctivities. Sincc it wa$ onr clesire to reinstata tl# 

pnsry_vc- op_tions tls prornptl.y ns possiblc, we decided to eoncentrate on 

the Tlvbrid II- 

. We'began effortq in Janrrary t97i] to aequire eomplete ttesign drawitrg.s 

on_the_Ilvbrid II frorn the dummi rnrnufrrctur'""s. 

tl'his 

was 

undertal

5 

GMts and our test proeetlures. fn the abdomen

6 

' , Mr. JVrr-soN. 56,600. 

$crral:rrr ll.rnrrr. 116,600? Right?- 

. Mr'.'[\rrr,som. ]les. AncI ltrrrk in 1966 it was on thc orcler-f carrtt bd 

sure, trut it r.;iir,s somewhnt kss. Qrrite sornc lcss. ft rrlachctl a perli- 

$jcrrrrttrr'(ltron. I)icl vorr say 1956 or 1966 ? 

Srrna,tor lT.rnrnn. 1ll 66" 

Mr. \\-rr,solr. I:cs. 

, Senator IfAR'l.r{E. That is whcn tho arrtomohile safetv la,w uras nasscd. 

Mr. JVrr,sor+. It was somtlw]rcro in the ncishborhoocl of tlre lower 

fift v thousancls. 

. ' 1Slnatol J[.,rnrnn. Ancl tho r]eat]r rates continuccl to go u1l? Right? 

Mr'. JVrr,sow. Tho doath rnte ha,s continued to be reiluce.t trud'the 

nrrrnber of llatalitir+s lrrls continued to go rr 1r. 

Senator I[,r,nr:rn. Ail right. 'Ihoro-lnn-be an explanation of t]rat on 

the basis of irrcretrsecl numbcr of autorrrobiles. incicasccl milc:s. and so 

fort,h. 

Mr. Wrr,son. That is corret:t. 

Sena,tor J:fnrrlnn. Rrrt. still, thc fact is thn,t we hftve made no srrhstantirrl 

proiTress in reducing tho highr,r'ay toll of, actual fatalities, 

serious injuries, or tho amorrrrt of rrroncy that has bcon lost. 

_ I)o vori have'a,n estimatc o.t how rnrrny personal injuries occurred 

last ycar ? 

Mr. Wrr,sow. Yes, a,p1rr:oximatelv 3.5 million people injured. 

Seniltor l-flnrrcn. Whut wfl,s the clir:cct prolirrlti t'larringo last ven,r? 

Ift'. IVrr-son. f can't give you a, figurc c"{actly, brrt ll'ha{; \\'c arc 

Ioohing at is a total vn,lue of loss to scxlicty. I'his is somcrvhcro in tho 

neighliorhood of ,$40 to $46 lrillion. 

Senator lf,rrlrrrr,:. $40 billion to $46 billion lost to socict,v ? Onc of the 

things that pcoplc lrcap telling R, Sena,tor is that vou havo to Jravs 

patit:rtce. Last night a pln,ne ern,shecl il Rostorr. Thnt was just, a,bsohrttll.y 

rrncnlled for. Tn nrlrlitiorr" there is the problarn of rtlilrorrcl safcty. 

There is nat nt this momerrt the tvpe of nnmrishecl orrtrlr'v from tho 

Arnericn,n r:itizenly to clo somethinrt'ninut tliese snfety problerns. 

f thirrlr. rrttforl,unr,rtrilv. thtt itrs not a auestion of ftrrrlt. f thinli that 

freqnently lvhnt r,r,e have forrnrl is that too mrrclr n{folh is }rein.,g macle 

to liIrtl eotrlrontation anrl tjre tyne of heacllines lvherc accusations arc 

milde.'[ nrn certilinly not tloingihat. 

f lr,'oulcl sav this: Thcro scerrrs to be rt this moment verv little 

?evererrcr) for'hrrman life in Anreliea,n societv. Antl thc faet bf it is 

thnt mnyhc wc havc bcconre so tcc,hnoloEic,iily mirrrlerl tJrai, we no 

longt:r lrnvel th::lt r:en,l cleelr corl(lcrlr about-moving on to rvh:,lt f consiclot 

must hc a tu:ash pror:dam to denl v-itlr tlris sitria,tion. 

f think tlra,f sorne oI iJrese pcople alc pretty cn,llous to the headlines 

of fntalitios llut, I think that st,atistie$ $how that onc out o:f everv three 

of you here toclay arc going to lxr injurec.l permarrcntly-tl-,at is. if yorr 

livi the normal tprrn'of lifo. ,A.lso,"tlrey shor,v thrrt one out of evely 

six of vorr nre going to rlie in an accitlcrrt." 

Anrl f still don't scc the type of cletermination that f think is 

neccssarY. 

Let urtl aslr vorr n, question. Ifns Australin, hnd halrter resrrlts n'itlr 

seatbclts thirrr rvr,r lrave hRd in the lTnitccl Strrtrls? The storic:s lrave 

indicatccl that. fs thnt l, true statement ?

7 

.l\{r. 

wrr,sox. rt is a. tr.Lc stttement. This cemc trhout as a result of 

tfic a

8 

air bn6rs, which these hearineF f,,re rea.lly about-do you see f,,ny technological 

reason for clclryirig thc rnotoi' vehicle s*firty sttnd#d 908 

requiling full_ passivc pr"otcCtion for the front occupants bcginning 

with the model i'ear 197?i ? 

Mr. \4rrr,sorq."IVe havc taken this in steps, Mr. Chairman. The ffrst 

th_ing we wanted to do was to t*ke n. look at the dummy situation, 

rn'hirih we hiive done, and allorv or enatrle nranufactuererd who move 

ahcacl in the 19?4 and 19?5 years rvith one of the options, option 1 or 

option 9. We have nccornplished thrrt. 

trVe are now ta,king a looh at the rcmaining work thnt we have going 

on itr the chrtrrrttv a,i:ea to firrd ont if we can. in fnct. lrrter thiE fail 

deterrrnine if we cnn clevelop a dummy that wirrllrl fit the full passivo 

mandatory rcquil'enlent for thc 1976 moclel ycar. 

Se,nator H-e.nr:nn. I)o vou havo a conment ? 

Ifr'. Scnrqnronn. Yes, iir. f worrld just liko to ndd to what Mr.'Wilson 

said to attempt to place it in contextl 

You will recrril fhllt; rve hiitl issued o final stnnclarcl conccrning passiye 

restraints that .lvas challcngcd bv a,ll the auto rnanufacturers sellirtg 

ca,r's in this countr"v sl,r'e frrr GI't anrl Morrledes. 

'l'he crrtrt of 

afi;erls in (linc,innati la]st l)t-'t'ctnltcr lrrk:cl orrl; orrr' $tnnrllrr"cl rrnd sa,icl, 

in clTcct, the stnnrhrd was rll riglrt exccpt tlrrrt {'yorrr test device is no 

goocl.tt 

Since then, as Mr. JVilson stated irr his testimonv, we havc spent a, 

grtrrt clcal of affort in a.Ntenrptirrg to fix tJre inaclrrcluacirs of the test 

dcvice. 

Wc think we have fixecl it insofnr n,s coming up with somothing that, 

i,s satisflc:Lory, tlre Itvbrid fI, for the pur:pose-'of pelrrritting mtnufrrctrrrers 

to go rlherrrl rvith pnssive restraints clurirrg the sb-called 

optiorr period. 

'[Ve 

]rave this arlditional extensivo clummy rcsearch work being done, 

thrrt we feel necris to be cornpletecl beforc we can nrake anv judgment 

as to tho rnu,nrln,tory prssive rcstrnirrt issue. Au.d thlt clurnmy lescarch 

wo1ft wonr{; be Iirriqhefl- 

Senatol llLn.rrrtl. lfi hegan when ? 

Ilr'. Sr,rrrnnrnr,:rr. ft hcga,l in f)r,rr:rrrrllc:r or lVovernber of last vear as 

f recrrll. It is sclrcclulerl to tre completecl atrout ()ctober of this vear, sir. 

Scrtator ff,rnrrn. Let me asii you Jrow rnuch rnoney is' in'this 

division. 

I[r. Scrrtvnrnlln. \Vell, we clontt htve nn n,uthorization for motor 

velti-t:le_pro,qrrrm,s this vear joo, slr;. 

'[Ye nre 

:]pcr&fing 

on a rlontinrring 

resoltrtiorr. 

'Ihe 

Sennto hir,s lreen hind cnouglr to give us nn a.ut]rorrzation. 

Senator l-Trrnrxu. Of how mueh? 

l\[r. Sorrxr:rrrnn. 946.8 rni]licn f helieve. 

Serrator' I:T,'rru:nn. $46.8 m il liorr ? 

I'[r. Scrrmnurnn. T]ro lTorrse hrrs not given us an authorization. 

Senator Hnrvrrtl:. All liEht. Then ho* manr- empjovees i:lrc involved 

in this tlnrnrnv projr:r:t ? Ts this on a contrar:t ? 

Mr. C.cn:mn. tr{r. C}ra,irnran, wc have two contraets. one with General 

l\{otors anrl one with sierra lt)ngineer:ing co. trvit}rin the aclrninistration, 

we p.'ba,hly havc trhe eclrivalen[ of per]rnps five to eight 

people working---well, no, aborrt five-__*

I 

Senator llennrn. Five to eight, people rvorking on this? 

Mr. ilatrrnn. Yes, sir'. 

Sonator l-lem'rui. Do you need more? Coultl you do a tretter job if 

you - had rnor'e elnlllovecs i 

r\[r. C.r.trrnn. It is rrrore n tnatter of tcchnolory. 

Sertrr{or llanrnr:. lVcll. coultl I'ou clnprloy i,}ie teclrrrology? Cantt you 

hire good pcople? I)o 1-ou tttr-'rtn to sa.v tfiis tert:lrriologit'nlly sulrerior 

count-i'r'ctoirsnt htve t,hrr rrbilitv atty n.xrt'e to evert titke care of itself ? 

Mr. C-ttrtnu. I am sute we ao. ltr. Chnirman. 

Seuirtor ll..rrllrtri. ALtl von shor't of Inlrrrlx)wcr in this section, trfr' 

Wiisorr? Do vr,rr u-ant. to iii,rlie. lr. colnlnerrt ou tlirrt lxrfore. yolr deptrrt? 

I a,tn lot tr'"tiirrg to fir't r-titt ittlo a ltole. IJrrt rYhlr.t I atn rctrllv tryirrg 

to fintl orrt is lrlircrcjtt'e'.t.r gtring to tltis tlrr'ttst t't) tttot-tl fot ii:irt'd antl 

what is l;he P*rblcm? ls it rrranpo*-er'? Is it tnotrtrv? Is.it, wiII .Porver 

or is it jrrst 

1i1111 IacJrtrd;tisir:rri rli'pltltliatiott of tlrc Arrtelicitlt spii'it? 

I[r. lVrr,sirrv. Nol we ar,". ]ru,'suirtg this rrs rapidlv.as lve cflIl-I think 

eveirv[orlv.lvolld ]rave to nEl'tre that'thc Stt'et,y-Adririnistration is oper'' 

atini' in rr lat.lrcr. lean wtvl l{orvever'. it isntt -just a matter o{ the tec:ltnicui'people 

that rvri ancl'the lclrnirristrntiou lta,t-ti wo_rhing on this. ft 

is n mat,tcr of having ctolrtt'ftct frtuds so t]tlt we cln hire experts outsiclo 

tlre n,tlrninist t'u{i6n to tlso hel lt tts rvcrJi in this area' 

Se.rriltor llanrrit,:. I unclelstlrnti that' .ln othcr lvclltls, do you neecl 

mole cotrtrrrct funds? Is thtt u'hat.vou rrced? We can give it to go 

trhcld and cqrrtrattt a ploposcil .|i liilliol to subsicliztr expolts in the 

IJrriterl Stril.cs. J'r'l lrrtlitl gir-,: $i lrriilion rt'tttl sttie 50.00() lives. 

ff vorr ncctl S5 ttrilliott. I litrorv you $'onrt set it- I n'ill ttill you I will 

lxr fo"r it i:f thrrt is rvhat vou trtcd.-In othct ivords, I rvoulcl lihc to find 

sollre wilv to rnovo otrt of tlris trap we artt itt. 

l\,Ir. \Vrr,rcrrx. Ocltnirrlv rvc r,ouicl u-c(:) nlol'e frrncling. 

Scnirtol l-Lrnrxrr. All i'ight. I clon't thitrli tltcrc is-tny use in me pursuing 

it ruly nlole. f iust ivalit vou to ltttrtrv ltty feelings. I wjsh voutd 

come-antl sort of lrlty honest u:ith the *\nrt:r'icnn-pcoplc. And to sl'rrrt 

worrving ahorrt tirc ilollar rrrnv he one lhing. 'I'he otrly pelst)tr rvho 

worr:ir,s iihout t|c clollrrr for i7;000 Ameliclttt,s is tlre urtdcrtalcer. 

On Jurre 2? Secretnly l.lrirtegar dicl t'ecoive a letter from l{r' CoIe 

of (icn errrl llot ols recourtn r,rtrtl iiig irrclefi r r ite postpollenicnt of stttn dard 

?08. Whnt is vour trosition on tlurt retrorrrmerlclrutiott? 

Mr. Scrrmriiutn. Ô,r" Trosition is prettv mtreh as I have nttempted to 

outlinc irr answer to a l.rrevious clriestiorr. Mr:. Clhnirmtlt. trtrd thlt is 

that rvc hnve not yet rnaile n dccisiirn as to rrurrtlatol'y paste. You will 

recall we hacl a nirrnchtoly prrssir-e tltrte Augnst 1i"r, 19?1.r. The court set 

thrr,t nside srr,;*ing, 

"]'ou cirn-'t lrtrve the clrrtrj rrntil yo,tt fix the clummyrtt 

'W'e, 

cantt Sct a irew drrte until rve know rvltaL flte clrrrttrrty research is 

" 

goins ttl telJ rrs. 

Tlllir work lvon't hc completecl until October. At that time we will 

cross that bridso. 

lienator Hanrxn. Yorr will try to make tlecision ? 

I'his clutrrrrrv has a Z-vear lifrl ? Is thrr,t colrect? 

IIr. Scrrwr:inEn. Tlut's corlect, sir. 

Serutor f{.rrlrtru. Afttr tlrat, rvhirt ? 5*othing? 

llr. St;rrnntrrr:t. I'he point I arrt tr'f iug to rrirr'ke is that we a,re satisffcd 

that this durrrmy is good cnough for purltoscs of fl mflnufacturer

10 

docicling as an option whcther or not he wants to go ahead w_ith an ait 

cnshiorisystcm.'1\/e iile very hopefll C],\t rvili [o fol*-alcl rvith its 

plans. 

' 

W* rrre also vcrv hotleful othtr ma,nufacrt'urers will. 

\Yhrrt rve cloutt"l;rrow ret, and rve rt[tlrrt stry lutil the reisearch js all 

eournlete is rvhrrt the uitirritte rftrmtny s'ili be. .[[rrrte the trltinrrrtc 

clum'inv or the tlurrtmv for the futut'c-bet'oncl Arr{rrist 15 will be tho 

Hvbr.iil If. 1\-e just rrr:c:n't in a position ttitluv to mrrke that 'irrtlgrnent. 

llorrefullv *e',oill lrt: irr a positjdn when {.his rlescarch- 

Senntoi' Ifnn'r'nn. ( )ctober: 1 or October 31 ? 

n{r. Scr-rxlrrtrrrln. I dontt kttorv, l{r'. Chilirrnnn. 

Serrll tor l-T.tntnn. I)o you think it is L)ctobcr or &re we dealing with 

Novt:rnlrtlr ? 

.i\'lr'. ScrnrnroER. l$or T think-well, tho contract reports will come in 

in Octobt:r', a,nd l,hev rvill hrrve trl be evaluirtert. a,nd thut is not goitrg to 

be tlone in'lr tlty oi'2. I think that lry lolovernber \vc olrglrt to lre in tr, 

posil,ion * to lrnow r'vltirt we ale going'to clo'lvith r:csllect,-io this issrre. 

Senn,tot' Hnnnq,;. I ]retlr you l-ncl unclelsl,and you, aird I atn not heing 

clit,icll. I nm trying io push you brck to rr tlrll,e rvlrtrre .you cln go bnck 

and sny, ttlookl th-c Criug"cis insists u-c harve rr rcply," rrrrd kecp on 

pushing, ancl I 'iust ' " ' 

wrrnt a-little l)re$:nre- bacli of it. 

l{r'. Scrrwnnrun. 

'[,Vc have pltrtL.y of 1rr'+l$sur:e fr:om your comrnittee, 

sir. (lhrrirnran l\lLrugnuson - has^writir,n ui ort a rrurnber of occa,sions concernirrg 

l,his issrre. 

Sr:nri,tor: Ifnnrnn. AlI riglrt. 

Now, then, 1974 vchiclEs are going to be cquipped with sequential 

ignitirxr irrterloek systcrn, wlriclimcrins that thc ri:rotorist ivill rrot bc 

ahlc to strrrL thei r vetrriclc without first bucklirlg rrl). I{ow, hor,v elTective 

clo'l ou ihink thnt is going to be? 

Ifr'. Scrrxnrunn. lVe ar:e ve.r'y hopcfrrl as to the efiectiyeness of t}ris, 

trf_r. Chrrilrrrln. Our projr:ctions and analvsis show. if r.ou could achievg 

a.lqu.ncfcc-l lrerr:ent irse-thrrt is_, if the dystern r:orrld rrot be rlelintr,,d, 

wlrich r think is not goingl {:o be the en,se-ancl rvcre this svsr.urrr inj 

stulleld in nll cnls. u'lriCh of cour.se it carurot be--1'orr coulcl savc 10,000 

or rrror'e lives a,nnriallv. 

Jlre rtre very, r'cry hopefrrl that this system is going to have graat 

lif esav i rxr notlrri tial.' 

Serratoi"ILrnrnn^ Lo_t Te s_ay one thing with regnrcl to that. T hope 

it can lle. $11ns;s" (look has biren, at least in the iessions o',rtsiclcr, lr'rrl 

I will leFort on hirn pnblicly now, wlrat he says lrr.jvrrtely. lJut ho has 

been vcry instrlm-ental in try-ing to take the caninrittee riown the line 

or sa\'rng th-[t l.t tllel'e_rs a sa.fetv stirntlarcl t]rat sornet]ring orrght to be 

rlorre to plohrbrt lreople fronr eliminatirrg thrrt srrfetv stnndard. 

I, warrf to_ congr.irtulate you for that leadership in"thrrt ficltl. 

scnato. coori. r:et mt+ sa.v this.-l\Ir. clrair:rrt*rtr. ()nc 'f the tlrings 

wo firce u-ith the ncw rnoclels is thtt if vou 11,s going to utilize tire 

:.":llir_l.tl,lt, *'foll unirtelv. too rniurv. pcopJe us-c ir.rrv'i,f hool.in;1 thc 

settbett lrehrnct tlrrrrn. then rrt Ienst rvifh thc interlor:!< st.stenl it is sorng 

to be darnrr inconvcrrierrlr for l,lrern, brt:rrrrsc if tlrey do iirclr it r,r, f,rT iiliil 

ontr.. lhev aro goirrg to lrave to rrttioclc it rrncl thcir prrt ii blctJtosri+r;treji 

ilgillnr ltecattse tlrey ca'trtt sttrt t.he crrginc tlre sccoricl tirug rlvel tirough 

rf rnav tie lOckecl,

11 

So in effeet it is going to be a great derrl more inconvenient to tltcm 

*ntIi I iurrr* th,rt rvr,lirrrl,,or-c itr iiris clirrrct ir)t], Lxl(lruse I lrtvc got n lot 

of rlrrestiirrrs to ask vr)rr irlrolrt tlris sitrrrrtiott rvhcrr tnv tuttr colllcs. 

\tr. Wrr-sox. I'lie Dcnartrrrcttt is sttpporting, I trnderstancl, nn 

a,rnritrritnerrt that, Chailrtt-atr Jfc,ss is llrrtriirg in jjis legislrtion in the 

iinr.r** tltat rr.oultl tntkt, this n Ft-'rlelrll oll'crise I believo {or tlcalers or 

rnt ---l;i r:lrrrtrics to rlhitttge oI' r(l]rl()\'o ]tctltllltl saft'ty t:tltriPrrrtltrt, 

tlrc ]tigli ",,r'-=. t'"tv l)rugt irnr stntrtlrtrd'pltiptxll-s. that' rvc,prrblishecl 

in tire l;i:tlelrtl lli'gister'last Attgrrst. lve lll(: ilslilllg tll(:.StlrleS 

throuElr tfueir lrg'i(rrlic rri0tor vtr]ricle irisp*t:tiqn pl'ogfrll)Is to irrrilrect 

fol srift:tv-reltir:ti items tlrnt:r,t'tl tttanclrtitl liv the lit:tlcrltl tttotor r-ehiclc 

safety strttrclards trttcl lnltltt: tlrt:m ellqctive so the cqqiplrrent can- 

"ot Uc chalieotl. Tlrus. vorurvorrltl llol l)ilss an itrsperltiorr if sbme-snfety 

tn"iiirri*,lt, iir,rc n'ris*irig or itropr.r'ttive. \Yc thirik tlis is rr gootl itlt:a. 

'Srilatqr 

I{.rnrrrr.:. Lei.'rrrc sar'-tlrlrt ottg)rt to cki. trt lenSt onl-litt fo t:ottsidcr. 

i.i"l I irntx, t,lrirt wu r:tur. i l'ill ,:llli1't rrtr ittrtcttdttrtrtttto tlrc Srrfety 

A"i tli rrr:o"irltithat -yon cirrrrrot clear:ti'r,tt,r: it $ttfrrttr tltrvictl once it is on 

*" iriii,iii"*,t ;,,*t;i. thi*t ir i1 the Olc11Air Act, I tlilp t5e1e is sorne 

type " of Irlovisiou o t tlurt lii Ird. 

\1". Sicrr.ot:rrrnt. Ycs. 

S"n,ntro, Il'.,trrrrrn. iou *oulcl frrvor such a thing,'wouldn't you? 

l\{r. Wrr,sox. \\re clrrr $uppol't tllllt' 

Si:natot I{'rnrxu. All r'ight. Irine' 

Scnato.r'Coolr. 

Settatot' (loott. Thark vou. trfr. (lhrrirnrtn' 

Ur. fVitror'. tirst oI iiti', I lnve g.t t' ttrll vort f nsree wit6 the de- 

*i-i"" ,,i ir* bi"iti tiirii"it (lourt'of A''e.ris. -,\ntl'f 

ng.t'tc. r-crv lf- 

{innrr.tivelv rvith it. Ancl tlrc lteltsfrn I rlo is t}rlrt I_grt tlle feolllrg-,ft]rfl 

I lrrrvc llr,cn lx:r'c for:4,7/2 t'ettt's trltcl tlrrtt's all-L;llt' I g{lt thr lcellrlg 

tfroi, +"r 4Vo veat's thc Iie-ptrrtrnetrt hirs Ircerr rtor'liirlll on it ll('w $\'stenr 

Llr,f'fr_= tnij,*iruottl: ni f,il' rrs this Sorrttor is corrr:erirrt:tl .,tr1l 1l1p pllort 

iio* " 1,,,"1 rrrlde to trv i.i, conr-i1ce the Amelir,:n,n prrhlic t'o,1str sqltl1elt's' 

1f;;;i'i;;r* i'"*,i "*"1"1,tt,iiii** frlom-botli Cer\trral Nlotols atrtl I'.old 

th*i-tt..,-,.n,nIi,,,rtioi,'oJ inptti;tt atrd slrgttltler strrr-p.is lnort: t:ll'cr:tivtr 

iu l*",rm of thc rr,,mlr*rJ,,f I'ivcs that cortltl be strv,ld iu itutotntlbi le nc- 

"i.lirlrt* otlir,,. t6,,' *1"'f,*,e.. a1d tlrey s6orv tlnt u.ltlrlrglttorrrbintrd 

rriif, *" "i' irrrg 'rrrvid*s iuo.* 'r'otet:tio..thal an trir lag a,l11c. 

.N,,io, in resfi'ri t"'iiti*'i"?ii,lttiotiot',. ir-hi.:h I am sirtre .u:,1,-ijt-"1'-*h{ 

*"n'**'*tifi;;iil-; 1,;;; oT-6glling ftir thc lctttrtiotr dt MVS5 CoSA 

i ^ irrtt auttlt tirrderstaud it. Antl I rr-ill be franlt rvith Jiou' . - 

i.;iii-it;ittk -t- rieiif il*-pi'"t,t*u1 *-itJt *ir.btgs of sicle eollisions' 

of roll.ve's,.'rt,, *oriii|,i,tl.tllt..[ a crr' goitrg-ck:tt:1 i:1e 1iglg'rr;'aftcr 

i'f f,-r -";isir*f irnpoct.'l'1e air Sag'is de{lttted trrcl t}rtr ca' is {r'etr 

i;'il;;i ;'fi^;iil ;;!yn:h*'" it w,urti to go, over in t5e next four 

lanes. 

:'" 

i"iu*t thi'li that rre, hflr'c never rnrrrle rl good show of trving to sell 

the, ilcsfrtlcti'r-e. Stntt: legislltnles antl trTirrg to.scll tlrt: Atttcttctul peol)Je 

tln "'if,:. lhe'rrl ilizrrtiorr r'rf sclrtlielts arrtl shortltlcl' lltll'neris. 

S""*uro,,n. S;i;iot;bu.,li, o:*t" J,r)rr t. agree to knoek out stando*.i 

ZnS'tije rvo,.ld otlo-t" t rio,:liing out"sc,rtbclb irrterloclis, rnd I dolr't 

think that-=- 

,]'^'hk-;,;i;; Coon. Tlren I think it ought to he nmended so we ean correct 

thrt sitrration.

t2 

^, l,r't let trte give you an exanrple. Let's say that I arn in irn autor''bile 

Tlrlrt hlls iln a.lr'tltlg mstal lation in the sttirlrirrg wfuccl. whicl sgnre of 

tJtem hflve- All r.ight. Lrlst ,Sundrry niglrt f "am coniing llaclc from 

Ann&polrsr trn(l 0rr .a two-lillre roird a lnt]rer larEc deerit:ilrn() a(r,Oss 

the load. r slirrnmetl on rrry brirJres, whilo r hatl tiic so*tbclt,s o'_ r liit 

him. 

Senrrtor llnar,r,. I{unting without a license. 

Scnrtor Coon. f.grres-s'tirlt's wlrat you would call it. 

rnirf, tnmtirl werghed_I gucss 180 or 140 pqrnds. f wa,s traveling 

ahout 40 mift:s an h.ru . I{ori, it; is my urxlcr strr'inli"f]rûrri ir,. si,r1istic:s 

thtt uty_nip bag worrlcl have inflrrl ccl."Is th,rt true g 

J\tr' cnHrnrt' No. sirl ib x'orrrrl'-trt, s*rrator 

probal-rle. 

coo]r. rt is highly im- 

The air li,g n''nalty wjlt ,ioi ;rriini* ;;iii;;;, il-;-Jrr 

ity charrge 

vetxr- 

i} thc,rrefurririLt,,iir,#-io",,rl rs miloi; a'lror', as 

n}urn. 

a 

rLrrtl 

mirri_ 

r doubt tliut you c'en irl)pl'oaclr"a-inof,-i"i.;;'o;; 

decr. It 

hit the 

worJlcl t+rke s'rnet*hing *1,p'c'cirbit ;;;.-.';i;il-iiffi,i irlmr trra,r. 

se'rr,tor: cloon. r wtr't to ti'il yru ii *oJ ,i .iri, * ;;iii,=;,* i;iia 

statt{ irrl-tl:rmage 

snn, 

to t]re frorrt c'rl o-[ ,nv .,*i I. will tell 

nfr. 

io; tioi much. 

CaHncn. I rnisht suggcsr, sir', tirat tiLl ,:;q;.i;,;;'o*t*,iiiu,, 

onl5' 11;39 

,,,,t 

rniles arr h'rr. bdr'irt *il sf.c,,ck'rri, t"'rldi;ii."tn"i,ou.. 

mcrrlrs thn,t you 

fl,ut 

l'ould havo_plotcri;iorr in'it,* "Liri,ri*, iili*r,io,: 

fi'om the' 

eittrer 

stee'i's cohrm'-pa,riri'1i,r,:*[,it.rrr.", nt arry sperd 

air lus 

below "" 

dcrlovrrit:ni 

the 

speetli'rd agiri, th,i d;iri;i;.;,it*i,fid: 

_ 'senitrr'-coirx. lT"cieriJos i liilrr-'to'i*ir yo, r rvoulcl',t 

belt. 

have had a 

Mr" scr+rrnrnnn. you eourrr have lrad a be,rt. Trrc'e wilr bo a,rrcrior:ages 

in tiro r:r,r'r: ir'cl vou clr,ll hrrve t]re,l;crt prt i' f'r,* vtrr.y nonrirrar 

Sona,tor (lotilr. cost. 

Tl 

t.,,,r Fr,;, ;r;;-;;,#l,i:'ii-':l+,li:fi; ,,.f"_:";.,'i:Jl,j;1 {Jjin-jl:.'1il"?;i 

bucJrlcs in thcle anrl no seatbelt.s. IUow, ltrnt, to n,e, just-si:e,rns 

lous. fleur,usc 

rirlicu_ 

iet me sav to you if .you ai.o g,,ing to oiirer i,i;i 

and 

;;; 

the'sa,v. 

n,ir Lrag 

"If vorr .diilrrt seatrrelts, tlic nirctrors ir,ro the'e ;n t ,*, n.,Jr.R 

hc's not xloiri;q tg"s.! stntbelis tri.;il;.'il;l;;';;;d-il;;ii'jr#'itr" to;* 

that yorr lruve tokl hirrr hc c*n ttuu* aii th-c satct.y h* rrr:erl$ 

bas. 

with tl-re air 

Mr. sclrrwrrrrr:n. 

'lrre.. 

fecl lJ-ratrs r"ight. r rnight nlso arld, 

frorn 

senator 

n lcsnl stl,rdp'irrt 

cook, 

thtrre is "Jr"o",t,it'1,.y 

e{fer:t toclir v 

liourio'J'.Iqiiir:,r"**"t in 

Srlnrrtor"Coor. Nrlne whatsoevor ? 

I'[r:. srirrnnmrrn. None w]ra,ts'ever. That was ilre import of 

cottrtts decision. 

the 

liu'nto' cloon. r snt do'w'. rvith the form.r r)irect'r i' nry 

asked him to 

orlice 

c.'si

1B 

They thought it was il good idea. l'hey retrlly clid. And I neverhetrd 

from -- thcm. 

lf"t* i -un onlv strv to you, Mr' trVilson, thqt I think what t]re Deo*;d;;;t 

ffi#;;i,iJi"el*"rrrdroai,'g all o{ its tirnt:tlying.lo fi.ri1l I suuititrrte 

-- for.sornethi'g thlrt iL clrn sell norr'_ltncl tltirt, rt lllttili t soltl' 

M;: Scrr*u,,,,ro. f-f,,,rii to ili*og"en with you, I thirrk 

.sclrttrtr,(loolr' 

tlri; tilii.;r*t n fni. itrterrrcirt. lL glent airl o+ lrloncv hirs lrttl slxrrtt 

iii-rlr'.,uroti's the ,,s*-u] scirtl*rlts'i t'i.li if.loq talli. tti,t'e S;rl't:tY 

6;i;;ii';,;;ciirl".-."=T,J tnu pcoplti thlt iu'c irivolveil in thc: lrrto itr- 

.i;rt";;'y;i-":iii tfi.i litelnll.v st'.^l'es of ntillions of dclhrs htve btreu 

suent *'S""it*T,it:Cln-,*- 

in aclvt:rtisirrg lire use of riolrtl]etts' 

i-,,in ttirt tnlking tr,bout tJre scores o-[ rni]lions of dollars. 

Let rrrtl give You tlvo exillllllies' 

rVr. Scrrrri:rnrri. Ilav J- 

Sentttor Coon. Go airelrd. 

M;:'S;;;ir"*. niiil irlso goins towrrcl the seathelt interlock syst"* 

"""{" ".hi.fr ls ri*riti",rtly drsi,irrc,itl()(:iltlse wc cart't g.:t usflfle. r'tt(rs 1P. 

,"";rifrpiir'",iti-" trr-

14 

Senator Coor. Rccausc this is what we really need and ro*lly need 

in our lt*nd. 

Let nre *give yorr an oxample. We ltnve been sitting in h-ere weeks 

ancl weekg'lorv'u'orlcing otl lI no-ftlrrll; insuranco lrill. An

15 

is reouired as a direct payrrrent when you get your rcgistrationl conseoueirtlv. 

havins initialecl thtt iiind of n prograltl u'luclr costs t'ne 

gcrirerrrtticirt of tire Llottttlottu'crrltlt a substnltial Srrln of money oYer 

f;;J;-ililhe-n.*ittii,urs paid into it, it rvo.ltl s*ettt to tne i1 an efiort 

i" O.t-r,rr"*. logîc inLo the eqrritv of tirrrt {utrcl tltrrt tlte.v could,l)rollose 

in.'-iiiri,ii." pni'"ri us they filt ivere lleces'iary to lcgulrtte the lirtaucral 

stttrri -" of thit furrcl. 

,C.ii .".,,,t4 liip" that that would be n basic argunront in thcir contentiorr 

"^t\t;;-;;,y i.[ in fu,rli it i.s Lestcd. 

j,r,,i tinu* dole the jo6 tlnt you s'Soulcl llrt I an g'i'q_to 

arglrr.rit"lr'vou. Ilave rny of yol set:trihe, Iilrn lrlothtcerl by the Na- 

;ifi:i;i S"ni il"it (louncilbn tlic cntire clialog thcy tlicl in -\ustraliu'? 

I'Ir. lVrr,sou. Ycs' 

S*,r-,,ntn,lCnnn. (iood.I thought it was a remnrkable film' 

Ilr. -S*ri,ii"iJ \Vrr,sor'r. Yes' 

C"ox. And I thorrgirt it pnssed. It went into efrect on 

.tr,tv'i. 'fiit"i gou* it-6 months lfif.rle t]iey stnrted to fino [nybocly' And 

[ti# tir,i',t'ii',-o--rri'oLt,rn of t1e i'vasion'of rights ttncl c'e.Ttl:ring r:Ise 

t,ithirr thrrt fi-r1-orrth pcriocl [ad pnttty well gole tty the wa]'slde. AII(I 

f ^'Th,, think titcv ltnve solv-cd tlrtrit pr

16 

it still true that the most elfective w&y of savinE lives is to recluire thrrt 

thc cirls trc built rvith a rncchrr,rricll ivstern s,r firey rvon't r.uri without 

thrl sel,tbclls bcinE in rrlace ? 

Mr. lVrr-so;c. Of ciurstr, thnt is what the isnition intcrlock will re- 

Qr11p o11 any vchir:Je constructed in thc 19?4 inoclcl ycar. 

nfr. 

'I'hc 

Sorrmnrnnn. problem is you have 100 million cars that wontt 

hrrve thern irr there. 

l$en*tor lJnar,r-. f know, but how long docs it take to get a turnover ? 

llr'. $1;Hlrrrronn. 10 nrilljon fl, vcar. 

fifr. ]trrrr,srl]r. Probably lrC or i? ycars beforo all vchicles rvoulcl have 

thcnr. 

Scnator Bnar-r,. Irow long docs it take to get States to pass the kind 

of legislatiou you flrc- 

IIr. \Yrr,sox. ft rnay vcrv well happcrr -a quite ratridly beeurse also in 

the highwav bill therc is rrn-incentive-, dolirrt: ince-ntive, to those $tates 

tltart wonld pass rnanclntor.y seatbclt legisla,tion, and this I believo is 

_2fi perrxrrrt of thcir no'rnal highway s*lety funrli. so it could be a siaable 

amorrnt. 

Surat,or Coor. May I intcrrupt 1 minute, Glenn ? 

Senltor lJri-rr.r,. Celtainlv. 

Serrttor (loox. You srr,id-on the basis of 10 rniltion a, verlr it would 

talre 10 years. llncler the Austla,lian law, rrry (:tr that, bicornes a usecl 

_autorrurhile for the purposo of resale rnust l"re oquipperl wittr scrrtbelts 

brr-t{:)rc thrl owltor cu,r], r'e-selI. 

I{orv, it sterr}s tro rnc t}rrlt we ciln pnt this into t}re la,w. 

Senator Brr.nr,r,. We a,re t,alking a,lrout two diJlcrerrt things, Marlow. 

f wls talhing nlrorrt the meclranir:aI brrsirrcris. 

I'[r. Scr+linrnnn. As f rrrrr]erstn,nd Senator Beall. ]re was rcfcn'ins to 

tho E;err,tbelt interlock systotn. Whrr,t we wcle srryin;1 wrrs that beiore 

thc s.ystcrm wils in all cars it lvorrld trr,lre that pcriod of tirrre. 

Thrrt is wh.y we havc supported the mandatory u$e lrrw, and that is 

whv we thinil it is verv irnir]rtant. 

I. rnlght also merrtioir wiirh respect to mandatory use thn,t trfr. ]Yilson 

antl Mi. Ilully of thc Seat Reilt Corrrrcil-I think vou rrr.e fnrililiar with 

this, Scrrator"()ooli-appearccl on thc t{Torlnytt sirow toget}rrlr ? weeks 

ago'toclay, both spenlririg in frrvor of mrnditory seatlii.rlt use lcgislatron. 

N[r. 

'lVrr,eorv. 

Mr. Chairma,n, mav f adrlress the problom of retrofittin,g 

? I rnislrt rne,rrtion that Pucrto Rico clid lequire. r'etrofitting hrl

t7 

senator Bnar,r,. How is that as e ra,te compnred to four-rvheeled. 

vehicles --M.. ? 

Wt*on. It is a lot higlier, but I am not in e position to tell you 

horv '-"S-;;;; much hir:rher. 

ifilrol. Are you prrparecl to come forth with recommentlad";;lr;;t 

ttta trislr iate ôf accidents in the trt'o-whceled' powerdriven 

*^ltii-fVii^tr,". vehit:le aret ? 

lttt, yes' we hnve been striving very hard tp.sct the 

States to alopt helniet iaws which retpire passerlgers tlnd drrvers of 

two-'rvhcclcrt vdriclcs to rvear a helmet' 

Wn ,it" al.so worl.ing i" fhu development of an experimentat.,*.nf*t' 

-,rtrrr*Vi*, t;" ;lgiiitny, to t.y to improyc the crasl survivability of 

tl .- m0t()rcvcle, 

iV; tlii,.,[-t],,,.* is n lot tlnt can 6o done here, aud we lavc 1rtst 

startecl sttch a progrfl,m. 

Mr. ScrrNmnnrrl'\rye-have issuecl several standarcls that ar-tr npplied 

tollotu."u"les o1lv. aircl lve hnve several others cu_rrently in the rvorkg. 

Srlrratoi ('on^. A * tlrose stnndtrrcls tvailable today ? 

Satrirtor lJt.,lr.r,.'fhtt, is nry trext question. 

ilr.. Coi.;tr*. S.,ti,ntor B,rail, if we mav, sir, we wo-rrlcl lilre to submit 

fn" tt,'0,-rl*"nrd to you our activitics in-dlie mirtorcycrlo ar(ra? the stlnd- 

""4*. it,*-.f"rti",i antoi of tSoso we have propo.sed nnd antioipnted. 

elleetive --Si"i*inr dtrtes. 

[Jr,:.,tr,r,. T don't wont to ineur the wrath of all the ilrotorcvcle 

entlnrsiasts nrounrl the corurtry, Ilut I ttrink motorc.ycles_ torlay 

i:'i,i,t*.orit u 1'g1y trrzardorrs forrrr of ii'tnspo"tation to_tlre people thnt 

oi,,ii nn Tfr** nrirl to otlrers tlrut arentt on-them. nrrrl I jrrst thittk we 

ouEht, to b(l doing soincthinq e{Teetively to trv to rerltrce tha acciclent 

;;t ;;;,;i.ir"n*i** "'-"" if it involves innkini{ ittsrr'nnce rttc's so }ligh 

""-nttrilt,-t"t"s sn higlt that people arc cliscottragcd fr'oln buying thcm 

and - ttsing thetn. 'W'tr 

fftr. Clt.ritn. helieve we lave a fairlv aeti'e.pr'Hmm there' 

senator Benll. anrl rve nre rr-orliing vcry closely rvrth tlre J:IFtrutso' 

Tlrcv hnve excellent sttttisties )rcre' 

r am not srrre of the figrrros. brrt there is a ve.ry hish pereentage.of 

thc accidelts. rnotolcvcle?ccicJents. tl'rat oceur with clrivers. if vou will, 

o" "i.loni, rvith less thatr G-motrthst exlteriencc or sotucthing lilre thrrt. 

This {aet. rtf coulsc. bring$ up the training problent' 

Mr. J\-rr.sorr. T saltt to nrention we thiril< ir, great deal ean lte done 

;n lh" )icensing of nrotorcycle opcrrtors on the part of the states. Here 

aglin thc new'ftt11lxlfl,rcls thnt were p.roposed last August t:otttaitr tl (lonsirlerltble, 

amottttt of nerv jnfornraiiori antl ttew rctlttirt'rnentS on the 

Stnt"* tn bctter license people or bettcr train thenr tircl Jieense thcm in 

this -'-H,,nnto" irreu. 

Bsrrr,r,. Perhaps a, requiremcnt th_nt thay olcy the traflie 

lo.s. I-n]-ost hit one tlfo rlav bl{ore ycsterclnv rr-lien f 'rvas.rlt'iving 

clown ]flrs"irrlrttscf f s .\ r-01rttn. lleeattse tltc nrof{)revr^lr' rvrts I'ltltr)gf I)ci*..." 

iJro lnnns of tm{firr. As T rsns lhorrt ready to rrrovo frorn one lane 

to the otlter, tlterc rvas the tnotorcyclist. 

l\{r. JVrr,som. T }rave setn thc strtne thing. 

Sentrtor lJnnr,r,. fn ncither lane. 

Thrrnk you verrt mtrch. 

Senatoi llanrin. AII right-

18 

I 

,$enntor Stevens. 

Senator S'r:r'xnr*s. f havc no qrtestiorrs. 

Scnttor' (loon. Ther.e is one point I woulcl like to make if f may, 

Ml. []lrrrilrnan. Mrry [? 

fienll{rrr: Ifnnrnn. Yes. 

Senatol Corlx. I tell yorr wha[ f would li]re frnrn yorr all for some 

tilrrt', this fall rlr next yclr'. I rvoulcl lilte. r'ecomrnerrdntir.rrrs ftom vour 

I)t:llrrrt;rrretrt, lil'orn Jrour agcrl(jv, r'elative. to the rnandatory reqirircmcni,$ 

to Jeave an {rutonrobilo tlrr+ wtr,y it is. Arrrl f think t}re sarrre thing 

orrnlrt, to bc done x'ith motortt.ytles. 

Wc havtt hn,rl tr'll this hulliibtrloo ahout brrnrlrers, trrrcl rre requirc tfio 

Inanufactur'ei'to put the burnpers on. flncl Tri: rcquire tlren^to hnve 

ccrtain give ttttcl take, antl so od attcl so fol'th. Incl tjren all of a $qdderr 

yoll r'un into nn atrtonrr:rbile, ancl it ltrts got tirrcs tlrrrt raise thc r'car.errrl 

trp so fl,r that tho grry qt_n'! scc out of his mirror. lle hrs Eot his front 

Lrunrpcr oII. Ire lr's got his baclr brrrnper oil. IIe has got a [rrch windorv 

airorrt thrrt bis nrounll if he wtnts it. ^ 

I thinlr terluiremcnls orrght-to bc madeJot the s*fety of the general 

prrlllic that hc caruro{, rr,lter tlrat autorno}.riltr. I l

19 

reverence for humnn Jifo which seems tobe.so,previllent iu tJtc Govern- 

;;.lji;;"i solrr.,'',tlcttt in Atrto'it-'a'socrictvtocklv-uing 

the way in seat- 

I rvill srrYio you ltelc 1'otrlru've -Attstr"a 

r,*rir.'Ti ii;l i-iiIh'n]î)ii;I1,, oi xt''u.Zertlitrrtl, tSiv nre t5s onlv- 

N*rv Zerrlir'4 rrnd A;;t-il;i;;,' itin ot ty ii"it'.i,ttt#ies in the world 

t'virrs to srrvc n tot ,ri'i.iiir'fi*iiig- frot'n i'ith clcformities- Rrt'hingîn 

ii;{-'iT"i*r*iiv;.;',st';';;..;;-;;,fii'i;matic relntior.rs rvits France for 

killins ^'t]ii.l,;iiii--i*.;aent 

tlrcise kids' 

lnst night. f haveleen after the FA{. I have 

r.i;f th;;i;';iotv pt'n!,ntii ii-nl' rrbsol'te dislster and. disgnsting' 

All vo' rret is r.er:rifrti;i;tu;;: Y"tt get thern tryi*g to ettibtrlrass-P-9o- 

,l;. ii,,;t;.?;'r,,ri";i'iil'ii",i.**tl.i*ffds trrat lvc htwo herc, Onet Wig- 

^gin. ',t,,s 

*^t'i',,,"iuii,,,;;; liillurl l.rst ni;;lrt. 

j; thilrliu,rn tothY wns schccluled to be on that plane 

frortr Gauclnl trfotors rrud lre toolt t Privrrte 

jel' 

--iiiir'i"iiiris 

tur, tfrnT-inir*'tir1,rg i,,tn to i'e c]one' You. ennnot 'write 

erro""fiiirnfiai i* Lti*.+*,r.1',',rr" eriougS of this tctiuologiqrl clisctrssion 

ih,,tTte 1r,tl itrclulgitrg jtr here totltY-rrtrless )-ou (:rII gt:t' sotrte ln(:lcilso 

illit;;;;iir," liitiis co.'try tir cltnr*tril thnt soi'cthing.be clort:' 

ii'*],rl lh*r*- lt's 1oi in ttie-i'.iigt'.ts. It's not in tho atlrlinistratiotr' 

tTrr{ortunatrrly, I clon't t}rirrh itts in the r:outtttv ilnv rllore. 

A1d thnt is tl,c tr,,u6le- 'f.,i'*i'r-f 

,ir.ty s,,Vs, 

"Live ioilrly ancl. ]rell. we'll 

bc cleatl tomorr.c.rrr,,rry*ny, nrii'yu,,".nr,it lt{Itlt'd to live illl\r\\'nY- T1flrr: 

ii;;iil g"i;rg to cat ,u"e up. Eat, d'ink, utrd bc rlrelrY fol torlon'orv you 

Inrry ""ij.tli,i* die.tt 

just say this. Yo' express. Ifr. Carter, g.cat eo11ern. You 

siry yo. live *, gi'eat proe'r'*ut itt nrotolt:yt:les. Yoii rrlit tloirts to havs 

i.iiriii fittlii,t 1. ii,otot'c.ycles 'cxt year'. Right? If cveryb.dy- 

Mt:.'!Vrr,sox. IIY l.9il0' 

,scnntor llrt'r'rtn. All right. Ifow many this year? 9,1'100? 

trfr. trVrr-sor+. 2'500' 

Sentrtor l [,tn'rxri. One percent of your budget is detlicated to that 

prolrlcm._Arn I correct ? 

nfr. Wrlsox. I cor.rlcltrtt cotntnent on thtt. It coulcl be corrsiderably 

moI'e. -'-'St',tintn. 

Ifanrnn. Oh, norv, it's not. Itm telling you. Itls I petce't of 

vurr "'N',,;':'tl; llu(lget. 

shorrlcl lttorv morn thnn I know' f mean t6is is-a dcmon- 

".,f 

.di;;; ;h;iii;"i* t".t.nt thnrst, rvhlt I spolic lbottt-ttarliet'toclay. 

I sornetirncs feel and siry to 5ou, sctralo| cooli. ancl I kuorv 1'otr 

**rt".i=* ou,ir l**ti"g of frdst.ation,'maybe 

'rtc_otrglt to a6atr.tlrrrr tlre 

ili,,f - itiiiic n"ii ttrillt rrp our'hirncls anii quit. Thitt's rvlrrrt I ft:el lilie- 

Mv --hil t:tticuce is golle. 

tiuht ? I don't know whattrr do about it' 

"^S*"ri?,t: ,qt-..'i"i*, v.i" lrltl lr qtrtistiorr orhrrlf of one atletst? -. 

S"rrrrlo" S.rn'rijs". Y,ru altl,rst got me o{f on ilrlother line, Mr. 

Cha,irrrran. 

-'iliit 

*o'.1'estion-nn4 f :rslrtr6this last ti-me. you rvcrc ltere-is f still 

fro"*'ifiJ"i*nl,.it,t* of mirrry of tlre pt'ople I rell'.on s'catlv in the 

Alasku meclit'til profession. tlrl t]rcy telI trre thlrt lrr_r' l]tgs []'e lx)l; gitlllg 

lo ""We. ".1"f. nt srrbzcio temptlratums rrlien tltcy trc prolotrrtecl. - 

iiou*. i,r Iiirirbanlis. lreliorls ot' timii wheir it strrys helow 85o beln*'"*r*t 

Jgr u'ccks at a tirnc.'Ihey tell ttre t|tt thoy jrrst caltngt co1-

20 

template putting air bagt into vehicles that are going to remain outs;rcic 

nnder tlrose circurrrstancr's. 

f 'wrnt, to know wlretlrer' ilny rcsearclr treerr dorre at prolonged subzero 

{ emperrrtrrrrrs with ail bags ? 

Ifr. (,'errun. Il-e lrave not-clonc anv work at Drolongecl temperaturcs, 

Serrttor Sievens. Of coursc, as"t]re ctr,r be4Jins to'r'un, it will 

n'arrri ntr. a,nd the thing is essentialli'inside. 

fn aclciition to t]rntf-we worrlcl p"oirrt out thcre was a mur:h greflter 

collcet'n nbout tJris a ferv years liack when the inflntiorr dcrvico was 

totally rrlnpressctl gas.'I'oclrry we hrlve a so-called hvbrirl systen in a 

Iot of tho syslcrns. iir other #ords, it is a rrrinilnumirruo.rtrt of stored 

ga,s. Tlren yorr hilve gas grlrarrrtion where if you will you brrrn lrowcr 

to gcrncra,te the gas, which is not too srrsceptible tb the very low 

ternl )eta,tures. 

S-enr,rtor S'revnns. IJnless yorr lrrrve changctl the rlesign of the automobilus 

that r:oirfairr air bngi, the rrrrtomobilcs thnt r afr familiar with 

arrd rny 

!ocr!11r {r'ientls alri frLmilirrr rviL}r, hirvo henters clesignctl for 

the peopla.-'f hey are not clcsilgnecl to hca,t'up the air' Lra,gs. 

Tlrt+ air btgs rrre part-rf tlic_clashboarcl,^nnd it rtoes'not wa,rm up, 

contrrrrv to rvhn.t you rnight thinl

2L 

1? nercent worrlfl have been saved. That is roughly in the neighbor' 

hoo'd of about I r').000 lives. Llrly,Iihe you indicated. 

'I'hat 

is just t,lrt: strntbt:lts alonc-lalrbtlts' 

i* t tt ttrl* -trrtalititrs lucl been rverlirig a ltp a,nd shoulder Lrclt, 31 pcr' 

cent corrld har'e beert snveil' 

,f f ,rtt tltc cars h,rcl bet,, equipped wit[ air bag's, 18 porcent could 

Ittrve been srrved. 

If all the r:u,t.s hacl txx:tt ectttiplrcd witfi tir }ags ancl all the fatalities 

hacl beerr rvcrrlitrg a ltpbelt, -2tt 

jrcrcent could have becn savcd' 

I clon't suerlt {or it. 

I:ilrry, t1o you want to comment on that ? 

Ml:. Si;rt'-,nrorR. Mr. Chairnrnn, ves- Just, that it is not mislending, 

but I woulrl liko to point out thri'of those tlrat are snved,.thc tigrire 

is rouuhlv 38.000 bectruse thtt is the number that are killecl in vchicles 

every'yei,r. Tlre rcmaitttler are pedestrians, motorcycrlists, and so on' 

Se,rrritor lfentnr,:. All right. 

Anv other questions ? 

fNo resporr.tc.] 

Scnatol II.rnrxn. Thank vou. gelrtlemen. 

Tlre, next willcss *ill b,o lfr. W: I{c1ler Potter, viee presiclent, prrblie 

affrrirs rurtl sa,fety; Mr. Jack'frees. vice presiclent ancl chief trctualyl 

nnr'l Mr. Jach l{nrtess, dircctor df a.utornotive engileering, of tho 

AIlstate Insrrrrrnce, Co. 

f think you hirve some distinguished people from fndiann. with you. 

Itisht ? 

$TATEMENTS 0F W. KEII,EB P0TTER, VICE PRESIDENT, PUBIIC 

AFITAIRS AND SAtr'ETY, AIf,STATE INSURANCE C0.; ACCOM' 

PANIED BY JACK TREES, VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIET ACTUARY; 

trACK MARTEI{S, DIRECTOE, AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING; CHIET 

PHIIIIP SPMK, SCHERERVILtrE, IND'; RAIPH WORSEY' 

WAUC0NDA, Itrl.; AND JOHN MATH0YT, OFFICER, U.S, IARK 

TOIICE, WASHINGTON, D.C. 

IUr. Irorrr:t. Yes, I have Chicf Spivak from Schererville, fnd., 

J\[r". Iinilrh I\"otsc.y fi'orn 'l\-rrrrc

-Ivith your inclulgence, f wolldl ; * outline briefly the hackground 

of orrr inteltlst in this aspact of a,utomobile su.fety. 

T.[rc intercsb of orrrl cornpany. rs inrlecd of a,l] automobile insrrrnnce 

cornpanit's, in prcventing riccirltints ancl rcclrr

23 

matcs of the potcntial rerluctions-in injuries antl tlenths 'rvith an nir 

6as sr.stcnr. Cl,,r "utnft.rf oiions inclicate"that a g'otl passive.restraint 

*uit"- srrr:h as the, aiij bag rvill srrbstnntinlly retluce occuprllt-lnlulles 

a"ncl rleaths. nnrl tlrerefolc oller a grtrltttlr solll'ce, rtt tttttontttfrrlc lrlstlrrrlcc 

cr'st r.r'4rrction itrntr otiV irtl|r itern preserrtly bcilg corrsiclered 

arrcl --"iiy this incl rt tlt-'s no-f nul t i rts urtrnce' 

*"**siiy, o,,t 1*i.',,iin" of savings is mado r'ibh limitarl clfia 

ancl'tlrurcfor.e'iir,rst, Lli lonsidcrecl rrr estiinato. In tnahitlg our estirtll'te' 

iti* ri,,,1ot:f*r:tors "ot,*i,tnt*.i n;e"e type of rccidettl, spcccl .tt point of 

imlract, - rurrl occupant lrosition. 

f.i" iri*tri,i"*, L,,,, sirrtly of oe_cnp*rt 4caths slowcd that 89.1 pcrcont 

of cloaLhs ocr,,rrrlc,l t"o people in tlre front seats ancl tlut in 66.? 

ncrccrrt of thesc ncciilt:rrts,'tlrJ l16irrt qf itnllrrct rvas froltill, rvhit:h 

i-,niiirit-" li;ili;il""; of protection of-frout scitt occuprrnts in 

i'.lii"i ..,iriri;",;: tiltr-ircst esiinurte aftt:r revierving nll lvnilahle 

4rrl:a is t[at t]rgt'c.u.1rj,l ]r* rr rechrcrtion o1:o

24 

. rn su'rmaryr-our- bcst jutlgment is thnt r:ccluetions in oeeurrant in- 

JrII'rcs anrt rlealJrs due to nir bags 

TguL.l alrpr.oxirrrate 25-.35'pcrcenr 

whe',co'r1rir'r:tl to today,s rossEi. Utia"r. it'a.dnrrl "ot*rrrol.' 

proach-.s ttrr:s* srving; l;;1i;; ;;;,i i"-:,,ir* w'*rd be reflccted, ll=r-1tJ; 

fo1 

lolltlly inirrrv lirrbilitv insuralce al e=rrcli,+nce develons- -- 

_ r'rtral,rating of air-b*g-equipped cars o' * jucrgrne'i basis coultr 

3::T\111j]*(:r prcmrums {or rrredical pirvrrrenfr-r coverngc and for per- 

Eonitl lnlrllv Dr'oter:tion coverrrge in no-farrlt $itales, evc[ in aclvrrncê of 

actrrul expei:ittr,,e. 

Norv, _iwns als' aslred 

by the stafl to be, rcacly to cornmcnt on severll 

GM strrdics pr'cserrtecl"at the recent safetv ,s,,rrrirrar. We haA ,,ot 

ptanne(l to cover thc$e becarr_,ie rve did not know if thcy would be 

tioned, 

rnen_ 

illlhorrgh the chairrnrn has. 

,. our.rcr-ierv-prinr.s out basic: fallrrci.s i'the sfuclics antl whv rve be- 

Ircve thr:v sh'uid lle disregard.d. Iiur, irr the interest of time ive were 

not goirrg to_r:ovcr'l;henr urriesr; vou u.onJd I ikerrs; to .lnlso. 

Fienrltor l[,rnrxr:. rt is pe'fcr:tly a! rig]rt with mc, unless there aro 

otlter mernba's who wantio go afrentl, triru,ve thos,r J'llrnitled tor tt,e 

recorcl, because r thinlr that'even (ienerar Moti,rs inoicliteslt,at ilr"" 

Itrtre nttt plr+sentetl thcse strtistics lrs mirtters of conclrrsive evirJenc'e 

tlrerns_(rl\-es) th'at they havc jrrst got them 'n the btr,sis of hest i'formatiorr 

thcv hnvo. 

I[r'. lfrtr:.s. we worr]rl i'st as soon clo that ancl not .aisc thc issue. 

Sr:'nator Coor. Tlhat will srrffice. 

tl.1ing that rerlllv 

.._JJt_:l]t 

hortrers rne. is if rhey are going ro he 

use(t Dv Itre. u.ltnes,q(:s for Lienelal trfotors in t,.rv wav as ari'rriiii,irrntive 

i! the 'ec.rrl.i'.the 

f,11.t:l].L"11' lltf.r 

p.siii.'rr 

_trf'rraving .,,t,nil*il {Jriu, 

Dut n()t at a pn[)rrc lrerr'rrrg. r'h:rt is the orr [v iJring that bot]rers mc. 

Mr. Turiris. IVe conlc[ coiire back later if rvou 

ltke. 

Senator Coorr. All risht. 

Senntor: ffnrrrnn. Ali rirrht. 

Il'r". Tnries. 

.,\orr', to, cxlilrrin orrr experienees with o'r fleet nnd 

c-\pr-rl'l0nces 

the 

of othcr: fleet, t'ar tlrivers, I rvou]d like to irrtrodnce Jack 

Mlr rtel$,.our: tlirerllor rll rrutornotir,-e erieinccring: *- 

covo'smo.e 

,_ {l:H:_Il:ks.ound 

tha'Ei yearsEf nutomobile cngineer_ 

MosL rccently 

1T,$,:"J:_i:lt:e. 

hc * rr .Jrief iirrto'r.tive saf.ty crrg,r,**,. 

wlth Anrf'rlcan ,\lot.rs oor1r. o.[ r)ritroit. ear]ier hrrr-i'g treen*emlil..ryed 

i_n e'sinee'irE nrrrrngcl'e.t a'tl ctesign ------- 1,"..iti"irs-*iiiitr.-'ii-a r'- 

Motor 

Co. rrirtl Gtlneral Mot'ors Corlr. 

_ IIe holds thr+ chu,irnranslrip of the Arrtonrtltivo Sn,fety Committee 

the 

of 

so.ict,y rif r.tourotiva lirngi'ee.; ;ii;ilJ;;tir* iri,J.r,.*oi.*or""rittees 

arrd subcornrrrittces of the socictv_ 

rrrrrk invo.lr-e:: 

_,^ll_i*^qt:::rrt 

rr.dvisilg Allstate mf,nflgernerlt on ques_ 

tlons ot autornobile cngi'cering and sa-fety and cotirclinating arrto_ 

-l!il: ensineering acri_viries wiir,ru, a ro'r"tloriiiiip;;i;,il'i;;iir:cen the 

tlutornobrle industrv anrl our irrsur.ance intlustly. ^ 

Jack. 

nfr:. l\{arrnws. Thank vou. 

JVe ]rtve a, brief strtrlrrient here. 

. A-llsl,:rtc 'erlizr:d early tlnt a, dcviee as advaneed in technolosv 

a.ir: 

as th* 

Lrag woultl nreet olr-position frorrr il;*l;;;;d p""rrLii.."f;ia tr,"t 

fl1]rltc,itrine 

o' ttrc stre'c'ts i" tn. "*Jirorid *our.l b" .,il"-tli#ouant* 

tlrc pelro'rrrarrce arrcl develop putrlic acceptarrce for the air bag. For

25 

this reason, we undertook to proenre the first nir-bag-equipped fleet 

test program. ft consistert of ?00 11)Tt Ifet'crrrys, openrtecl irr lcal rr-ollrl 

con.fiti.ins by Allstrrtc empl()Jccs, includirrg our cllail'tnarr of tltc boald 

and presidcnt. Resnlts to tlatc hnve bccn 100 pclcctrt successftrl. 

To satisfy onlselvt's of tlre air lxrg's capabilit.v. rvc aJso trrntluetccl a, 

series of dcinonstration tcsts nsing the D5inanriost:it:tice, Inc., provitrg 

grtrrrrrrl irt llJioenix,Itt'ia. l\to lrht otlt'rtit'lllg citl's ittrrl t'ttltltttct'l's 

thlorrgh hearing test exposrrnt. torrglt roitcl tt'=;ts, flving lltnp jrttups, 

low-slreccl impu:ts nnd a barlicl crash at tr sl)ced ot7712 mi/h, in l1I 

c&ses u$ing htrntan volrtntecrs. 

These tlsts rvcro fullv clor:umetttad, and the vehicles were instmmented 

erlr-rivalcnt to pi'csent indrtstry test lrrlctices. More rt:cently 

similar hirrnan vr-rluntier testing has-beetr fontlucterl by the llrrtoir 

()orp. at irrriract sller:rls corrir,irlt:ttt to a i0-rrrir/h (rl'ilsh illt.o a ltlrr'litld 

c&r. 

Wo have followed up eaeh air-bag-involved accident, either by personnl 

investigation or in cooperrrtiou rvith thc Deptrr'lrrtent of Trtrtrs- 

Irortrr{,ion. Tn-some instances we havc cooperntcci rvith DOT acciderrt 

investigatirrg tcams by loaning cquiprnell-for testing and study to ruid 

them in nccicletrt rrtconstrur:tion. 

Itrarlv in 19?2 Genertl }[otors stated puhliclv its intention to produce 

1ii00 nir-bag-equippctl otls to be lensecl to fleet optrators for 

exparrcled rel,l-woilcl testiirg. 'l'lx:sc crlts l\'erc to Lre built lvithout seatbcits 

i1 tho front seats and wete to oiler occupant protctrtiol bV the 

air bag for the driver a.nd both front seilt prsscllg{irs' We immecliattrly 

aslccd.'t6 trartisipate in tlris e'Irclcavor gnd rrrged GM to expnnrl the 

ffcet to cvet-t ],rrsei q uantitics. 

On Arsrrst Z+, Ut?!, I lvrotc to Mr. L. Lundstrom of GNI requestirtg 

B0g crrs ivhir:h we woultl hrry to expand tlre flr:ct size r'rbovc tfuc 1,0{)0 

nrorrosecl. We ollererl to pav for aclded costs of the cals if requircd. 

ilur intent was to improie'tlrt'. cxposure plolltr[ilitir,.s of atrcident itrvolvernent 

of air bag itars. Our retiur'st-u'as turnccl tlo*-rr bccause GM 

fglt il, 1.000-r.'.1r'flcet ivns irrltirlrrirte. lirrrl they u.rrtrtctl to lettr in orvner"ship 

throuch a letrstr progrfl,m. GII dirl, horvever, lease 33 suclr cars to AIIst,rte, 

a.s l)ilrt of itls 1,000-cur-Il'iet test. 

fn t rlt.l Gtrf arrtrounced it irrtetrded to offer 100,000 sueh cars optionallv 

to thc prrblic in 19?4. 'ftris we consirlttrcd a gilrnt step forrvard in 

iii'irvidirts tilr trlatfornr for a final stage detnonsttltion of the potential 

ior ret,l-iv.,r'Idair bag performan(:e. \1-e pllr:c fitrn ordcrs for more 

ihrrr 200 cars with tlie -Olclsruobile l)ivision of (iM arorrncl 'Tuno 15t 

igit. W- Sirve si'c* been inf'rnred tturt, the de,livcr;y will'lrrr delaved. 

w" t ou* this is only a brief clclay and thnt GM is still firn ly com- 

*ii.t"ato the 100,000 optional truild for' 11174 modcl yeilr. Any furtler 

delay coulcl be a botty lrlorv to the passive restrtr'int p-r.ogrrr.m' 

. 

ffittever G]\I's reasr.rrrs {ol t}re clelay, rve do not bclieve it related to 

the -:-Li highly successfrrl perfornrance of existing tes-t vehicles. - 

ii,*."r**ent (ilt drrvironrncrrt*l arrtt Safirty Setnintr on ,fune 20gt,l$tB; 

Mr'. Georgo ,inrith o.t Gi\,I peporled ori l}'ovirrg.sround cr:irsh 

[r,.#* wli"h wele riietl to ev&]utte t]re l.tt0t)-cur1)hevy fleet. The f}M 

Ctirporation is to be rxlmplimerrtLecl for tho extt:nt of thes': test crnshes. 

l:heir not, only covcrcd nll the crrllcnt rctluirenrent$ oI st:r,ntlar'cl ?08that,'is. 

t:r.asfies rrt i]0 nri/h frontll, 30 mi/]i at i]0-cleglee trrglcs, 20 rni/h 

sicle iuiptrcts and roof crush tests-but rvertt be-yorrd.

26 

The presentation depieted B0 milh pole crashes, 60 milh crashes into 

a prrrlrecl car rrith .30 irercent frontirf overlap, aritl rr 30 nrilh brrrnlrer 

unc.ltrl'r'ide crash rvhere the Lrutnpcr rnade no-t:onLnclt with thc l.rarlier'. 

But. trtost irrrlrressivtl wirs fl. started cr'ash of an air-crrshion-ecluilrpccl 

cirl tnto rr starrtlinE car rrncl thcn htving t.hat srrne vehicle contirirreiirto 

n, solitl ban'jer rvith nll durnrnics strrviig belorv thc lrr.esr:ribccl iniurv 

cl'itcrirr of stirldnr'cl 20S. Only ail crrshioris rvere usecl"for trrotectioir. " 

prpers 

..Other 

also u'cre ddlivclcci at this confclurr:e evâluating the 

e{Irrctiveness of vru'ious restla,int svlltcrrrs. Wc fccl tliu,t the conclursions 

dritrvtt bv the (iM presr:utt:r'$ lvere blscrl on hig-hlv srrbjective rnaterial, 

as ][r.'Irees has sct fort]r in detail, anrl we fcel thes"e stnclics arc oli 

limitrxl vtllne sincc they rlude to bclt uFirlge, bcnrlits jf worn. our pr.s[ 

experient:e in belt protnotiort ilru).lxl'allls ]eacls rri; to believe lhey calnot 

be acr:ornplishcd. The studiesf thcrcfore, we fcel, r.lise morc questirlns 

t,lla]] tltcv a,nswer" 

There-arc critics who profess tlurt belts, if wor-n, are e cost-erTective 

a,lte,rrrate to control frr,talitics. Brrl; even tircso critibs clo rrot cha,llsnse 

the nir.bag',s super'iol lr.erfor:manc.e in_frrntlr,l irrrlractg, arid at rrig|Er 

spet:tl:s - in lerluein'q injtr'ies irnd siirvirrg liyes, 

t'he sictc-implct rrritl sitltrsrvipc, criiics r:hnr.ste thc rir bag as a nonpcr'forrrre,r', 

brrt they alr: fr.r'ilirrg less thlrn tht: total siorv. A brrsic fact 

aplleilrs.to [:r:, Dcglet:tect. Lalr hdts rvhen worn ]ra.vo been knorvn to producc 

ul.l rlrv jo the occullflnt from {r'ont nntl sidc inrlrncts. A rccent 

lcPort ilom ]lorrirs]r llnivrlrsit..y of Vicl or'.y, Austlrrlia,^strrfes tlra,t imp,r,gprrrlv 

fitted belts do i_rr fact causc in jurv. Iu sicltl inrpac{ s thc air.bag, 

alihorrgh s,f sonre possible lrelp to irrirrry reclrrr:tion. slronkl trut l* i'*ii*=,i 

ulxrn t,rtlily to "solvr: thc prolllcm. 'l'he problem rcilrrires a st:ronger car 

l,j,l: :tt:,1:t'jtq tF prevtnt_.collapse .of the irnpacrecl.car,; sicle'guard 

berrms are he,1p"fnl 

_herr:. 

Ilnl; intelior pu,dcling trr clistrihutc concen_ 

tr'irt(lc[ lnp&(:t lolirls, {rr nrorc t:orrtourerl seat c,lesigns 1;o retrrin tho 

seillrr'd oc{'rlr}fl,_ntr rIl'{l rn()ro positivc irllslvlrrs to sidcr ir:nplci rrotectiorr, 

l[,othet w11'rfs. alt]rorri{h thtl .air. ba,g is tlre }lest irnrnr:rlirite'ans'cr: to 

rc(Iuc(r In1lllttles arrrt rrrirrncs irr rnost tyJrrs of r_-rnshes, it i; rrol, a 

aceit'frtra1lt:r.aslrc-:irtltrrristarrc0si.Il(]ristilesaai;1re]f. 

lliur_ 

Ifor'r: rnrrst he clone to imlrr'ove the velri,clrlrs sidc stnrcture fran.qibility 

an,l rollo'cr o.cr.pn't dj.ction potenti'r, art;r.;i;;;;;i+n,.i'*"*t 

ntldo 

r,e 

to rrtilize othcr;passive merrfo, such as padrliru ,irij i"ip"or,"a 

scirf tilesigrrs. 

^ --f ho *ir ba.q is a devico tlurt works in spite of the occrrlra't,$ apafhv. 

r\lterna,fe forr-.ecl action_ syst;ems snch a,i tt,* rrlz+ il;ii,il l',tc"tn,ck 

bclt svstrrr'r if rv.r'n, will aicl. *,r_ogr-*,,, it-, r.ttn +ntnlltv-r.,j,,.ii.irr rrntt.le. 

*"0..ilre nc\v 

l1lrll 

1[1'-5-r1p;lln urtentler{ for 1f)Tl nre el$ily clefentablr. -\rrd 

$'hen rrrol'c cost is nddcrl_to-Lhtrse systems to orrfir,c.urure their 

sh'rtcor'i'gs, lrreseut 

[ ]rnve ritlrro croubt tiiat in prdi;;ii"";-oirir,r* 

bag nrar" 

In* 

evcrl rrin 

oi" 

thr+ c:ost llrttlo. 

The clclav 'f the GM 100.00-0 car program is clisappointing, to sav 

l}:j:l:l:^t:rdn1' rsit'cssr-,-s rviil *1,r,i,n.*.'},ii t,,,;;-ii;;;i'-ii,,.,iii,,r, tr,o 

ox]ltlren{ro ot ,arr'-ha,g protection. il.heir frrcts shorrld spealr 

sclve'sfbrJ 

them_ 

-I31t a goori pir'ssiva restrairrt ,t*ui**, *ir"rr ut t;-,i 

try 

ilii;tentjer{ 

GXI. lirr.futrliriprrrchnsr,, troru tn,i;,-i,* in limbo. IVc lravo 

re{rsorr f. 

eycry 

}rclieve thiit t}re relerr,se of t}i'e 100.000 optionril rnr,st;dif 

]'jIJ1.1',ll: iljll'l*l. n,nct.srill-c'' srarr. ari,r"i,rir,,,ci.,* ni;"ii,,Jrv 

petrtroll "o,rr_ 

ior ilir-tril,q-et1ilillpcd car.s, whorr ollr-r coilrparr,s thc iot.+ igni_

27 

tion interlock system with nn air-ba-g-option c$.r. -tr'or -example, 

atrottii,tl 

ttiCtr-pli.:6d cirr compftr'cd rvitfi a, 1$?.t.nir-}ag.Cadillnc rnny 

ot p,,nI' riutinr*,d witfi lrclts, Lruzzers antl rr-at'nitrg.lig]rt,s; antl iu this 

u"li,:e b,rr,ctl.r:t:ri1()0 io {i150 is small r:ost fot'tht'option of atr nir llng-tf 

it's rvlilrtble. ('l'lre cost of irrterloclis of perhaPs $50 ciln probably 

also be. tL:ducted from this {igrrlc.) 

'I.'he 

optionll irpprotrcl'r lirrs trrbuglrt abortt nlntost rttriversnl acc_eptnncc 

of current lriliornrut;it: tranSmissiolrs, racing strilteS, sterco radios, 

.w-lritrl sitle.rvalI tiles, vitryl roo{s, et trt-'terir. t'ithout saving a single life 

nrrcl *'ith sctttt refertrrrce to irttlrcase d lttrtotnttbilc cost' 

,\t Allstatc rr'e lrtvc stticl we lrt:licve tlro nil bng is relrl.Y now. We 

*till fecl so. I'he l\fcrcurvs in orrr {lert-test, progrru]r are crrrrcntly 

evrthrirtitg r balt rlesign sinril,rt' to tlre_Fot'tl tll?4 s1'stem. ()rrr-ignitio-n 

intrlrlocJr'bull, svstem'(if not tlcfeatcd) docs trot folce slrorrlcler belt 

rlrJtgcr only lalr'Lrelt rrsiqe. It hts. hou'ever, clevclolretl etrolrrrorts critisisrii 

til. rrti'strit Allrrl.ntr: clrivers ancl n sunrmary of tltosecorrtrttcttts httg 

brrtrn lilcd in thc docltet, rcla'iirrg to stn,rrrlrrt'cl 20,9. 

Trvo ar:trral ct'asfies g{' MercitrY ,ail blg cars htlve taken plnce w}rero 

thc olrelltor ha{ cftrft:rrtcd t|c iglitiorr interloelr s.ystt'n'r. frr both instrrntlis, 

gvetr thouglr thc c[r'iver"-rras rtnbtlted, the air blg took over 

and stvcd Jives ancl le(luctd injrtrics. 

llhc air lrug can be ollt:ctil'e tls a totallv passive systenr rrithout lnpbelts, 

if a mrtiirrfrrctulcr clrooses to build srti'h l ear clttrittg the optiorrrrl 

periotl liclmitted by starrchrtl 203 ancl priol to ftrll mttrrrlrrlorv pls:iive 

i'eqlirchrents. Ilori'evcr, until stirtttltrritl 20$ intllurlcs a weil-ilefinod 

rollover test rleLlrocl, rvtl rtill itrstnll irrpbelts itr tlre rrir bng cill's we 

pultfilse 

-trac:{s in tho ftrture. tr\rc trelieva thc ertlrr lrrotectiorr in sitlc irnrrlcl 

r'ollovcrs rnirlres the ndtlition of tr, lrtp bclt tlcsjrrrhltl. Tltcre 

is strrt'te f,rrrrlt:ol[ jnvoh'ed, sintle in lrigh-spced frrttrtal collisiorts tho 

lrclt mtrv rcsrrlt in somc inierrul inirrrii's, rrlherens tlrc,air bag rvithorrt 

a bolt tnav eliruitratc srrtfi iniuries. We will consitler it a r:edunclnnt 

baclrun to thc lssurucl lrelftltrltatttc of air bags, trntil thc hrrlnnce of 

thc plis--ivc prtrterrtion -rerluir'errtents have lxtr,tt ncltievecl-lrv better 

sert i.lcsi11rr, lictter inlerior pttlrling, and lry bctter antieject,iorr protection 

as u. total systern of occrtpnnt protectiotr. I{owevcr, rve clo_not obier:t 

to n manulnctrrlnt"s ttnil prrtchalct'ts olttiou irr r'cgirtd to lnptrelts 

dnlirtg this plrrrseirr periocl. 

Noiv ns rielrrtes Io our fiekl experienee, T worrlrl likc to present n 

$umm&ry of sorrre of thc re*rnt, aii bag involvecl tcr:irlttrtt vehiclrrs. a,nrl 

nlso pre"scnt a ferv nonvictjm aeeiclent pa,rticitrtltrts rvlto have lived 

throrigh the,. experie.nee of air hag crashis. 'I'hen lr-e rvill flnswer a,ny 

o ' uestions this cornrnittee mav hnve, 

'fhis 

fSlirl

28 

Our driver was woar.ing olly his _lrrpbelt._Tho rigirt seat air bag 

deployecl pcrfectly-and oul clr.iver fclL }^re still won fr'6rn it. 

_ .Tltg angle of impact, alrnosh 45 de.grerls, thr.ew hjm folrvard ancl to 

his right- Attcr crittinE his fortilretul on'his rcrrr yision rnin'or. he 

buriecl his facc in the center passenger rrir. Lraq, insterd of the

29 

Mercury was cntering the freewfly on one r&mpr while an MG rvas entering 

6n another. A*s the Mercury paralleled- the ilIG's ontry ra.mp, 

the t\trG overac:celerated on wet pivdment, did an end-around spinand 

collidecl head on with the MErcury. at 15 to 25 miles per hour. 

[Slirle.] This is tho Mercury. Agaiir, there wns no air-bag.for the 

driier, brit he wns \\-earing hii lapTlelt. He received minor injurieschest 

and sJrouldcr pains, sprained hand, and right forerrrm contusion. 

I-Iis right seat pa,sstrnger', r lrrwyer for thc -{-tomic Energy Comnrission, 

ivas behirid the air'bug, trritl was totally ntrhurt. ITeJbo, wns 

u-errring his lanbelt. Ilere ienition interlocks worked. He was also 

wcarin*g glassei. 'l'hey wu'e ieithcr broken nor knocked out of place 

on his frce by the air bag deployment. 

Wharr the"IJniversitr;-o* Sorithem California-I)OT contract crash 

invcstigrrting tenrn wenr ablc to interview hirn later, thcy learned he 

hatl letr for .3 tlays o{ skiing tt Stltrrrv V*llcy immediatbly after the 

ca,sh. 

ISlide.] 

This is the ll[G after the crash. 

ISlide.] 

Tho un-belted MG driver sustfl,ined a right foot injury on that shqrp 

nretui accelerirtor pcrhl, plus clrest and allclorninal iniuric's rrrlld-multiple 

brrriscs. Notir:e'the deiormetl sttrering rvheel of the MG--dcformed. 

irv the force of the driverrs hands durinfi impact' 

lSlid.c.l 

Near llederiek, DId., on Altril 5. an air bng test Mereury traveling 

on a tlroroughfat'c wa$ str'ucli lt lrlmost a right atrgle, in tlre driverts 

floor'. by tr. sihool l.rrrs rrt a,rt intelserrtion. Thisis the M.ercurv,, with thc 

imprinl of the sc]rool brr-- ]nrrnper _indeliblv in its rnidsection. 

thi* *ns n t:rrrions typt: of cta.sh, first of iis brondside ltind involving 

nrr air trtg. and it opened an entire ncw vista to the vnluc of air.bags, 

rvr feel. it'lrcy we"dnever intendecl to clellloy in broadside collisions 

such as llhis. 

Notice the deerr pentration of the car at the joint between its fmnt 

fender nntl front-d6or. 

ISlide.1 

Ti,,: c]'rrnneJ-benm bumper of this sehool brrs hrrng in that front 

fcr,cler: nntl door nrea of the Merctrry, inevitablv stripping it ofi' So 

stlr(Iv wirs the b1r1per, atrrl so deep-its liite into-the r:lr, that it producccl 

virtrrnllV the snmb efiect upori the (:&r a,S a frotrtal collision-an 

nbrrrpt dtx:elera,tion. to rr stop-srifficilntl;y srrdden to cause the rrir bag 

s.r'srir tr:r 'enct as to tt frontal collision.-This l\[erc'rY, lilic our All- 

"tot" "0,"*. was equipped onlv with righi front seat air bngs. 

f Slicle.l 

il.,o s*-'er" imurlet of the bus into the clriyerts cloor sl*mmecl him 

into his cloor: inttrior, toward tllc bus, furcturing his lcft collarllone' 

Then h" r'eborrnrlerl hack t() his right. torvard the passen*o.er: se8.lr wlele 

the air lrrrg was still in a neltr frrl1v tlcployecl condition' Insi:cacl of hittils 

the rirrsh nnnr+J or right door. he-was afusorbecl into thc cleflnting 

"l"'irn". Tt o. ,trivei tolrl thc cnsli investigrrting team he is eorrvilrcecl 

thnt, tiie air crrshion spared him from fitrther inirrry' FTc will nevcr be 

dtite:rmined right or iurnrg irr this, blrt we fcel as the driver does-it 

was rticc to haie tlrrrt pillo* rrlongside hirn' 

23-080-73-3

:80 

. Thl- .driyoT, incjdentally, also_ hacl defeated his seatbelt ignitidn 

interloclr. He had the belt filstened arrd tuckctl uncler him. 

'Ihis IStide.] 

js Rock Creek Parkway, in_the Distriet of Cohunbia. It is patrullet.l 

bv-the rl.S. Park Police of the Departmerrt of thc rnte.ior. fhc 

l'alk Pohce are testing a small Ilcct ot' tho rgrl] Chevrok:ts rr-itfi air 

bags{or both driver anld front seat passengers, find without seatberts, 

IS1;tle.] 

- rrr Apr:i,l, this Dodge drifted over the centerline of the parkway, and 

--- -- ---r 

I-rrrrie

El 

-ins 

ear which made an instont. unsignalcd left turn. IIis'cor jurhu?d 

a iinrl!l curbing, - and hit this sturdy lieclge trcc 20 feet beyond - tire crirb. 

[Slicle.] 

,. 

' 

Ilere is the cnr &fter severe irnpact'rvith ths tree. Roth air bags deployed 

perfectly. 

f Slide.l , 

the dliver did encounter a small problem. His instant swerye to the 

left cnusctl his upper tol$o to lcan sliglrtly to tho right of tlrrr steeting 

whccl. rrncl hc triil ttttr benefit of hitiins'both thc iiriver,anrl centei- 

$eirl, oircul)alt air bags. But in the coursd of his fr,rrrvntd rnrttion rs the 

car brrr:ieil iiself intii the tlec. r'errorts state thnt he slirl betrveen the 

two trir tings. IIis heilrl strrrr:lr'hiJ rr:n,r'-vision mirror. llrrshing it into 

thc l-inclsJrie.lcl and cracking thc sla,ss. llllre driver srrJferctl fl very 

minor cut ou his cheek, and ri- bmisdd shoulcler florrr soft irrrpact with 

the instrrtrrrent panerl. Tle rcqrrired no merlical atterrtiort, horvertrt'. The 

air bags hrltl been rernovcd Lrv GIf and I)O'f lnvestigntiori rvlurn these 

pllotos rvere tnken a corrple of clu,ys lrrter, and thrrtts why the stccr'ing 

wheel center looks strippcd. 

I rrrn srrre GM will-sluncl on this crash and some of their othere. 

f Slido.l 

fn some ll.{ million miles of combincd trtr,vel to tlate bv Ure 1.800 

Chev.y rncl trIercury air llagl test cars. there have been 12 succcssfrrl'air 

b_ag

32 

Spivnlr, who is with us toclay, and went to the scene, slid ho is convinced 

the driver's air bas sai'ed the worrt&u:s life, since the front of 

her ca.r was totallv demolis,hed. 

Thc woman su"stained a krrver Ieg fracture and foot injuries in the 

impact. IIer infant sou \1'rrsr fatallyinjured in thc crash. GM may repolt 

- frrrthel orr this cvent. 

[Stide.] 

Accorrl-inE to a National Hiuhwav Tra{lic Safety Administration 

spokesrnan,"the panic lrlaliing df the"ruornan's car b6fore irnptrct with 

tle tr:uck tttJrr:ew-the chi td oil t}re sert l)eforr] the air bag ever: deplo.yod.tt 

As rt. pa,rt of tlreir exrrminfl,tiorl of the 0r*sh fl,nd tirc infantrs rienth, 

a DOT^ investigating teir,m from Inditlntr, Ifnivorsity made sevelal 

panic - lrlal

33 

I{ere'.q fl eloser view of the police car damage. Notice th_at at 68 

*ij;;^;r; h;;;, ii* uor,*1"y p*n[1*t*a ut *,e ^*-*ythrough 

the tr.rnk 

and to the rear door pillar, a distance of alrnost trve teet' 

iSlicle.l 

itt"ili,;i*'* n t:lose-up of the rir btg Morcury that did it'- 

Itemt:rtrber no*-t$o- o"i-"i tt"? "f thttsle Ford air bag erash inoolvenrclts 

you've *"*tt*. ilri, tlrivers htrd t'licu spccial- steps to nvoid 

filstcnirrs their sentbclts tnd rlefcrrt the igrrition interlock systems. 

I Slirle.l 

tir*'\i"r*tti"gton Post reported on Fritlny,lune 1$, 19?3, that this 

U.B. porf. Po'l=rce "rui**.-#itn emersency tliittt* a'cl 'sirsn bpernting 

"*oifia*a *i[tt tttn **oii of a seconcl i,uto. The cras]r occurred on the 

H;o"'WashinEton Merttorial I'itrkwav in -i\rlington' Speed clifrer- 

;rt ;Tl-i;-;ii-tir- tr* .irrs w1!r estirnrrterl at 25 to 35 miles per hour. 

lSIide.l 

ii**, Flcre ir'a rs a, closer view Yrew of ot the nir alr bag-erluipped 

Da,g-equrppeo vehicle. verllcru' It rt' was 11 ds occu' uwupili;y 

il"i'; TT-s- tlS. F"."k i'*.t Folice Privatcs .iottil .l"ohn.F. F. Nfalhovt ltalhoqt' and .farnes A' 

?l.l 

JXtl,*-.* 

iv*ut."'. Ratlror th[n to report on thcir injuries rrnd feelings, I'll stop 

our --,i*n'itn. rel)ort here nnd introiluce the three *'ittresses, if we may' 

If.,t*r.xr. Fine. IVe will 'roeeed-u.ith the othe.r-witnesses. 

biii"t Srri"uk, it iJ good to see you here from Schererville. 

M;. ff;: Mr. Mft;;s. 14f,ffi;s.'w* M,tn'rrlrs. We hi've hi't* have nlso Mr.haltrh Mr.halph Mr. tl,elph Worsev W'o1qey worsey from lV'auco lry'auconda,Ill', 

rnd --S*ut"" Officer 'Iohn Malhoyt from Washington,I)'C,' 

lfnt "or. It is an ho'or to fiir,vo you here. fn euch cirtumstanrres 

we rvill llc glad to hcar yoUr testiryony. 

Ifr. $rrven. r\Ii. Ch*irntan, I arn Phillip Spivak' I h*ve been s 

rr"ti""*u" for 18 years. I have tx|en the chief of police for the tourr of 

Schererville for the. past I years. 

Schererville is loiated in northwest Indiano in what is known as 

the Calumet region. Two major highways, U.S. 41 &nd U.S. 80, inter' 

sect within our to'w'tt limits. 

In mv ye&r$ fl.s a policeman, f have covered hundreds of occidenh 

,f *ffî"ori**, involviis commercial and passenger vehicles. Mony of 

the.se tr_ilirft:nts were oT the head-on type, in which tlre driver f,,Iweye 

sufrers some severe chest ancl head injuriesrrr 

investigating these acciclerrts,-i hrwo always_felt thf,t thenB w0,8 

a necd fo. trir aut;mntic safety dcvice which would not depend on the 

human clerne,rrt. In s, major fortion of aceiclents wherc injlrries were 

r.rfe"ea, tlre stanrlartl stfety^clevicas wcre pre$errt, but thc'driver und 

^ Dassengors had ftilecl to use them. 

I t-,uli read and lcard of a 'ew type of automrutie air bag which was 

beins installed in these vchicles.-tr{y {irst encorrnter wit}r this new 

srfeiv clevice occur:retl otr May 16, 1973, at'tr'li5 P.Irr-r oII IJ'S. Ilighrvruy 

41. - arinroxirnately 180 feet south of Airport Roldi 

i'dsponcled to a call to investigatd an accident. Upon arrival, I 

found ri rgtt Ir'orcl van and a 19?3 ftnrr-door Chevy nnd a 1966 GMC 

tprck. Irrvcstirratiorr of the 1t)?3 Chevrolet immedietoly revoaled to 

mv ilmf,zemerii, that it was equippetl with the nntomatiC air bng' Apparentlr 

the hags hacl deployed upon collision and were in the procesri 

of slowly deflating. 

In mv orrinion. had these safetv devices not been present' the driver 

would fiav'e sufiered severe ches[ and head injuriei, and also lacera-

34 

tibns fron flyii.rg glass which might have rosurted in another highway 

tatll trtv. 

I .-l'rilerely feel that 

ifsimihr 

siafety clevic:es rlre installetl in todrly's 

vehrcJcr.r, the ainourrt of highway fatalities and in-iuries rvill be drasticnllv 

leclucerl. 

- serrator r:r.c*rnn. The ehild in this case had no sn,fety rlevice and 

there was notling to prcvent ilr*t chirrr from slippirig;fitlic seat? rs 

thtt correct. Chief? 

' l{r. Srrv,ur. Yes, thnt is correet. There was no sa,fetv device. 

Senu,tor FT,rmru. 

'tr'lranlr 

-- - - 

' 

vou. Chief. 

Mr'. Worrsn'rr. Mr. Chairrirnn,'rn.yrlamg is Rrllph W'rsey, tryauconcla, 

rl1..r think.ro. s'rr- lrr

35 

delrice system that will protect him regarcllcss of his actions or fiis 

decisions. 

T'irrrt is all I haveto sav.. 

Senator llan'lnr:. I haic no rluestions. Thank you. 

Senator (.look. 

Sentt

36 

Mr. Mln'rr,ws. They have a combination whero they tie into the 

shoulder harness. Thd lap and shoulder base is fastendd together so 

you must use both. But lhe problem of takeup or the lapbElt is the 

same in 1974 cars. 

Senator Coon. I see. 

Mr. Ma-maws. In fact, his system is a 19?4lapbelt system. 

Senator Coor. It is no* atl iriclusive ? 

Mr. Nfartrrws. No, rro, the car involved in the air-bag necident was 

also evalua.ting tho ignition intorlock Bystem at thc tiine. Does that 

a,nswer your question! 

Mr. 'Wonsny. In other wordg. f couldntt stf,rt mv cf,r. The horn 

would continuo to blow you rig[t out of the seat unless that belt was 

pulled out. 

And the objection of most of us-and f have to Bpefl.k of men who 

use c&rs as n. business wtr.y of life, travel many miles a yenr'-the darrr 

things a.rn just verv urrcomfortatrle. 

Aiid, aftbr ail, dhen you have to sit there to perform your job, you 

would like to be comfortable and get to thc point-. W'hen you are sitting 

about like this [indicating], ycri can harilly move, plus being very 

uncomfortable. - 

I realize it's safety. I realize you take a chance when you dontt wear 

thern. Ilut I suppose, being a p&ssive citizen like most, of us are, you 

say, "Well, the chances of me getting hit are minirnal," and so you 

tako the ch*nce end try to afford foiany hours of comfort. 

Senator Coor. I dontt see how anybbdy f,.round the'Washington area, 

with as manv accidentg a.s thev ndss eferv dav on the Geor:se Washington 

Park-wav &nd e few o[hir places.'cutf no"" eet the idea that 

thEir chances of beine in an nccidenf are minimal. I rriust tell vou. 

This driving comn-iunity up hero is an "accideit Iooking fdr a pleee 

tc happen." 

Mr. Wonspv. TFhen you drive some of theso turnpikes, like from 

Chicago.to Minneap_olis, or rrp to Duluth, it is a 4- or 5^- or 6'hour haul. 

The horizon keeps disappcaring in ths foreground s,s you keep going 

out. The monotoiry monotoirv seG gets worso d'nd nnd, worse. Antt tho se;t sdt sets gets fesE ant 

less comfortable. 

Mr. Manrrms. Senator Cook, in the State of filinoie, rve have toll* 

wavs, and we have booths where we have to nav evelv I miles or so, 

and iir driving these ignition interlock systemi, it is "ehlly somethingi 

because by thE'timc ydu get fnstened in Lncl gct to the nc-xt toll bootlfi 

ancl you have to go back to your clrrrrtge again ancl start up nnd try to 

get the bazzer to-s'top buezing and the iighlb to stop flashinfi, it becornes 

il r'rther weird thin$, to say lhe lenst. 

Senator lfnnrxn. All right. Go ahead, Ofreer Malhoyt. 

'Washington, Officor Mer,non. My name is John Malhoyt, Il.S. Park Police, 

D.C. 

On thc lBth of July, I was involved in a motor vehicle aecident on 

thg Gecrgc Wa,shington Mcmorial Pa,rkwrry, involving n, 1g7B Chevrolet 

fmpala, a fou-r-door sedan equippcd" *ith ttre d,ir-cushion restraint 

Bvstern. 

'I'he 

a"ecitlent, as all accidcnts hapDen. occurred verv qrricklv. I'he 

vehiclc sto14r-etl'abruptly in front of ine,'and I had no wdy to dhange 

lancs to trvoid a collisron.

37 

As soon as the rrehicle stnrtecl to sl.oy, I applied the brnlres anrl 

sl

[]B 

_"T*^-lll,b1ti..i}'rt.*o* 

il ttS ear flrat Mr. Iyor:sey rvas 

pcrrrnentar 

in wris an ex- 

s.ys;ten rrorn the Eirton corlronrtion, wliich 

nrrd 

inflates 

drlcs 

trrc tirrg 

rrot ncce,.,;srrr.ilv rrlr on ,:ollrrlrs'c ,,il:]r;,li;;;fins",rt],rJ". 

hnusts gas 

rt,,*_ 

ontof the Lias ulm,rst i,rst,ririail;;jy;""- 

.L|erc :lr'fl flr]l{lr(rlrrrls rn ilrc_rvav Ilrel- work. r woukl imagine__rncl 

r arn o'l.v spce.lari'g-that the ilanr,,rge tv i.rr- L;i;,; *ufl,,.rr* ",,t 

{rown sonro of ilre lt+rfor.milncc of t}re t}M bag s.ystenr.'r think 

rcirtty 

it should 

lro up to (if,l to ta_lk rborri, thc trrhnica,iasirects. 

ficnrrtor'C)r-rort.'Ihilrrl< rou. 

. sc'ator Tlan'r'r*1. Thaf is a,ll the q*rrstio's r have. Tha'lr you. 

[T}reinforrna1;iotrrtlferrccltocar'lidrI.;ii;i;-.j'- 

coarMrNrg ow GsrcERAr Moror'B pl"pse RpaanDrNc E'FEcrrvENEss oE,. vaarouB -.- 

Itnsrt,trm't Slrslulrs , I 

At the Generfll Motors Safety $erhinar eonducted in .Iune, two gf the papers 

that were presented reviewetl potentiar ene*-i-i*n**, of various restraint 

thirt nre 

Bysteus 

unrrer conrridelation, 

-t)ne 

pa1,.," wa,s iitreo, nesi";i"f 

ness-*A 

si.sti,;ilxfie.,tiv"_ 

Study of Fntal ,{ccldents, trntl t}re ,seconrl was tiilerl, lJtneflt 

l)iglt 

Stlrly of 

Yrrhicle ocrcupant-Restrnirri tlo*figurErtiorrs. Boilr orlrri,se po1,.r"*, 

arrthored 

**r* 

enfirely try eruployees of Gererafnfotors. 

I)ue to our corrrpany'glntilrest in restraina;y,.rie;rr and their potential 

ness, 

effective* 

nnrl the frret that the sturlles appenre{ to give rlrarnatieally 

'cults-tlrftfl 

rlifferent 

prevlous 

re_ 

i'formatioui we tiave i'erieweo tbe studies. 

hetrn 

our .rview 

limited 

has 

to the material ln tile pap""s ttrer"selves ancl ilrtl inforrnntiofl 

opgd rrt 

devel. 

'rhe 

the strnirrar. 

major .ene&rch done. for the two studies wrg contlucteil f,or the 

whlch is 

fi.rst Btddy 

a report on restrrrint systerrr effoeitve""ss anrl irlelutthdta 

de'nt 

reriJw 

cases 

of acci_ 

ln whreh a rreath -oc"u"rea. 'E;sed 

o1 tho r."o+r".isil*vei gained 

frtnn reviewlnq the reports, it rs tjur vte; ili;t the condrusiorrs r{-'hehed 

study 

in 

have 

rJre 

to be {rlmo*t enilrely dlscorrnted. in taking thls .nflrnr sirone poeition, 

whi.h we hesitnte in rroingsince "eseai"rr in tni;;."a;. ;;d;e g'o g*o"ally 

li'eleomed, we hase our co'ncern at ouf ilte vati(tity of the results 

major polnts, 

on r.wo 

ri'irgt, the b&,sie npproaeh of. urring the subjectlve opinlons of four 

evaluatlng 

emproyoes In 

the systems-n8 a jury appronetr.'ig 

(l'M. 

not valirrated. rn the; *uay,iorr. 

t:mFloyeeg wero asi

39 

. : 

, Seeonflly, a very eritit:al polut ls the fatrt thht the basle dntri is not representative 

of ocruprlrtt fattlil:ics.'Ihete itre t\\'o liltjor Foulces r;f rlnta ur-cd ill the 

study irntl elrli replesent$ al)I)r(]xirrtatcly oneiarif thr] uun\l-rer of fatlrlities. 'I'he 

fit'st soulce is date Jlrorn nlotors lnsurarrce Corprilatirn. lt is lcltotttrtl tlttrt 

General Motors attained detuilcd ir.rforuration on as:itltr.uts thrrt \r'ere rclx)rt(id to 

tbe lltrt

40 

5, A statement ls trtade that lap belt usege le approachlng 467o ln' eurrent 

motltrl errs. The only scientilleally structured study thnt we know of thet testg 

seat belt usage in etrs with the buzzer-light system was conducted by the fneurance 

Institute for Highway Safcty. In this etudy people were observeal sB they 

u.setl their cars and it wts found thnt there w&B arr 187o usngr iu ctrs wlth the 

brrzzar'-light system and a 1€lp usage ln other ears which was not gtatistlcally 

significant, indiehtlng that the truzzer-Iight system dirt not inerefiEe Eeat helt 

usflge. tiilllilar stutiies done ln the past by the IIHS lnrlieate thut twice ag many 

people stnte they rvear seflt belt8 thfln actually used them when observed drlvlng. 

Thus, we find tha interesting sltuation thft people will snbstn.ntially overstate 

their usage of rieflt ltelts when asked. We have learned of one other study of 

buzzer-light usnge whleh was conducted tn r state silfety inspectton statlon, 

Tiris stutly inclieaterl a high percentage of rrsage but it ls doubtful whether sur;h 

a study is valid sirrce people worrld undoubtedly have a tenilcncy to use belts and 

d.rive mole strfely when approachirrg E Bafety statlon. In a recent ltrushin relxrrt 

over orre-half the peolile responding to a mail queetlonnalre lndlcated that they 

had defeated thelr buzzer-light systems. In tight ofprior studles, lf such r hlgher 

lxrreent adurit deferting a federally required system it can only b€ flBBumed that 

the aetual unmber wgs $ubstantlally greater. 

0. In light of the data mentlonetl ln Hlint 5, lt ts dlffeult to aceept the estlmate 

ln the report that there will be a 50/p usage rate for the '?4 system. ft ls 

also quostionable whether a rrrand&tory law woukl raise flre usflge rato lo Tfrtr/,," 

It is lmportrrnt to note that a aurvey ln Australia whlch showed there was a ?Sfa 

usage rate ehowed thnt only IB,l5/o of. the drlverg surveyed wore the belt anrl 

harness eorreetly, *{ Becond and more recent Aurtralinn study of seriously ln- 

Jurerl or killarl people who wore belts demoDstrates that lmproper belt usnge ls 

essoeiated wlth inJurles ln crashes- These studieB m{ke the General Md,torg 

injury reductlon assumptlonr very quesfionable, 

' These pointg regardlng rletatle of tne etuily further eonvlnee uB of Berious 

lirultatiorr with the hsele data and Urat the ehidy muet be dlsregarded. 

Iret me sf,y th&t, rve hnvo been inforrrred there will lxr l vote nt lZ 

otelock, so we &re going to proceed ns rtlridl y rs rrr-e (:fln, 

Senator (loorr. I -r'ar]t to say f am clelightid yorr nre rlll Jrere. 

Senator lfrn'r'x r:.'I'hank vbrr. 

Mr. Fred Secrcslr elecutive vice presiclent, X'ord Motor Co. 

You may proceed, srr. 

STATEIIENT OF IT,EI} SECREST, SXECUTIVE VICE PRESII}EITT, 

I'ORD tt[OT0R C0.; ACC0MPAI{IED BY EEBBERT f,. MTSCE, VICE 

PRESIDENT, EIIVIRO]IMEI{IAL ANII SAFSTY ENGTFEERTNS; 

r0HI[ C. ECKIIOf,IT, DIBECT0R, AUT0MQTIV.E SAIIETY OEETCE: 

AND I)ONAf,I) G, trIcGUIGAN, ATTORtr[Ey 

_ Mr. Sncrusr. I[r. Chairman, membcrs of t]re committee, my narne - is 

Fred Seerest. f am executive vice presiclerrt of no"cl wfoto" bo." 

,.Wi.th mc, on.m;r lirSht, fu_:Iu"_k Ir)chhold, our rlutornrrtive s*rfety 

drrcetorl on my left, Hertrert }fisch, vic:e lrresident, envirrrnurcntal rrnd 

safety c'gineering, *nd on rny far left Dtln McGuigrln. arr attorrrey. 

. lve apprecrate this opportunity to revierv Fo'dti views and co-nrllugrons 

B,bout restrrint systems, includirrg thtr status of air btr,g 

tlevelotrrnent. 

I rvint to ernphusize at tlre outsel, that tr'ord's opposition to certnin 

slerlfi"c proposals regarcling rr.il bags is not basecl or]i1fliffuler-rce tq ttrr 

nee.[ Ior lnrprovc(l ])flssenger restr*rnt systems. Inrleecl, Ford has per_ 

rorn'lefl Inllcll of the plone(]rtrtg work rlrr rt:straint sy$terns, inelucling 

work on ilir l-rass.

41 

'we 

were the first TT.s. manufocturer to offcr safetv.belts as optional 

"q,iiWt.t*, iti""ii" ritt,ri-;;lc1"1;: ftt r0rit, Irorr'l published the.r'.'srtlts 

ot lts l)ronenr*E4 urr-|i1[ .,t"u*inpt1tetrt, 

ri'ork conclttr,tctl j'int'ly with 

EH;;'C)orp. Siiictr than-tinrc, nr|rr:h 'rogr:ess irr rir 6ag technology 

h*-il;*r; -r,, t"ia*.Ilrrny-of tlie prlolrlerrrs iir,,ir brg clert'loltnrerrl-sttch ts 

i-fr s* t l ti ns to orrt- Jf--i*ifl* .r.,,1p1rttts, n ois.tl. l t'r cli.. tlte e ffeets of 

6rc, inruact rjir sr'nll c6i]cli'r.'. 'r'.lr:t:tio. irr rnrrltiltlt' colltslorts-rvere 

iiHt,;rt[lt"l;'iri-;;;iiH*1 b.y r,rrci. ][auy 'f tlr*st: p.irirJer's irpp('al to be 

;Til'l:il;;;ij-iji -,iit.tlleir-ith c.'titttiirtg tle'e)opnrent rvork' *lth.ttgh 

othors ""i;'il)69;ii".a c'ontinue'l o pnrsent Ilrrsic rliflir:rrlties' 

r^-a in inttoduci'g.r'" improved tlr'ee-point belt te- 

*t*ittt'*v"'t*i. of thc tvpe now reqiiired lty-(ior-erntrtent sttrndards' fn 

igil;-ir;1;ilr,rt ,tt"=t tici't of 8:',1 rnls c,ltip1rt:,1 rvitir,air lngs,trtttl l.3P 

fr*ifi i" tf,n'hir,nds oi' users-the firsl; rial-tiorld tt'st' of air llags', In 

ifli+ -it f.i.S. *r.r" *ill utilize a cornhitrt:ri lrrp itrrtl slroulrler lrt:lt sYstem 

rvith'stultcr intetloclt-a systelll Iit'st plopost'tl to tlte l)cl)rrl'tlne'nt or 

'Irarrsporl 

^ ltion by l'orcl' 

iiiiii=",r"6 refir:cts orrr bclief that the sirrgle rnost importa,nt co1trihrrtiort 

ttlt a,rrto manu{actutor citll mirko to ;rrotet:tttrtg vehlc'ls occUlrarrts 

irgrrinst irrjrrly or derrth is tq develop |etter rnethods of kee,prng 

ihcm within tlte trra,sserrger colnpal'tmerrtl.tlurtn;I-tt cf itsll 11nd or e.lrmlnating 

or at ltrnst redrrcingtho e{Ieets o1 the so-cn llttd sccon([ collrgronifi"i- 

?*, ti* imluut of ihe occnpauts irgainsb the interior of the 

vehicle. 

lVe hnver never as$rrmed, however, that any single tlcvice_or any single 

design concept would nccessnrily ln the safest and most rrrst- 

"t""?i"u,otutlon. Th* l)rrr.posc of bur ei'r'1y wolk on air: bags wns to 

**pi"i'*-* *oi*"pi ttrnt ivc t'horrght rrright supplcrrretrt,. not replace lrclt 

;;;l;,ril; #st*il*. fn sirnplc t.eims, thc air big was inten4ed to he a 

iuit".iot crlslL ptd, to reclr]t'c ilre scveritv of tht: sccontl collisiorr imJrtct 

of^r lapbeJtedôccuptrnt in frontnl t:ollisions' 

As this ltrcord shiws, l'ortl has a wetlth of erxperience in researcht 

developmerrt. and tr:stiirg of both helt systetns antl air hag systems. 

R"for*'discussing solte of the rrrsrrlts .rf that exptrricnce, Iro.wever, I 

rnould lihs to tnli-e a moment to correct any ntisunderstanding that may 

exio-t ---Clii"*r. as to ottr'1-rositiorr on l:l lt:laterl rrtatf.er' 

Gi tt"*tr cxpress*cl tlat tha insistcneo of Ford rrrtd othert 

on ob'igctivitv irr the teit met|ocls to bc ernployed by the figr-clnment 

i" oii.r"*itt""nru,rrtlatory trrnssivc rt:straint rlcluiremirnts could irnpede 

thc anrlu,rnEld proglruri of otre of our cornpe.litors to tiilier rrp to100,000 

ii:ottdi*ot air b'ag'systerns as extra costs olitions on certain of its 1974 

modcls. ---'!itc 

t'relieve ther,e neetl bo no such corlcern. Our unrlerstantlirlg !s that 

thc riew. intcrim tr:st clrilDrnv specifications issrred by tlle NHTS-A- on 

Julv 96. 19?3 are based on lirniterl findings that a particular dumn-rY 

i*-tig" is an obiective anrl satis{actory divice for use in testilg the 

fen-=par ticular inodels that ha,vc been-indeed crrish-tested with dummies 

-lV" of that dcsiEn. 

rura*"stmitl that the Safety Administration is committeed to 

.otta""ii"g f,rlf o",l fair rulernnking before attggglipg to expand the 

u"nii.uiio?t of thesa interim specifi-iations, and I-tlinh l1r. trVilson's 

td*titoony this morning eonfirnied that point.

42 

so -we sce ng'eed,-the'efore, for x'ord to r,eturn to the court of 

appeals to challenge thc nerv slracifications. 

Let me trrrn 'oir: to a funclaintl'tal srrbjeet*the rclrrtiv* potential 

o{ clilferlrrrl lcstrnint q5lstems for r.cclrrcing the nurlller of dlaths re_ 

srrlting florn tr*lfic nc.cidents. 

sr:nator' Iranrnr:. 

L,c-t rne say that that concern w&s fl, concern of the 

cornm ittcc, as volr t'ell hrrow. - 

Mr. Sntlrrr,:si. Yes. 

se,nator I lr\nrruq^ 

Srnd 

to that extent, we apprecirrte the fact vou a,re 

perrnittirrg thenr to at lerst, go aheacl. 

[{r- s'lcin'sr- of corrr',st-', rve w'uld huve 'o intc.est i' ar:ting to intcrfere 

with any real-wor'lcl test on thc air bag syste; "" *iiv"Eilr-" *v*tem., 

so lrrrs,as it_is rnude elear, as I r]rirrrc it iias"heen. that the o.pp",ri.al 

of the so-t:n,llcrl H.yirricl ff dumnry is rclatetl only to t]t.,n.,i,.,,r., in whicJr 

it has I'reen tcsterl. rr sceyns t,r us'a perieirti/;;f;-pt;tl;';;;;;1"". 

Ilord lrrrs condricted an exhaustive sturlv_rrsing o ,.u*t *ins analysis 

applotreh and clata orr sevcral thousand tcciclentslAt ttre risil of over_ 

srmp[fvrng a vcry complex s_trtrject, we ]rfl,ve surnnrilrized the r.esrrlts 

or LIll$ f$tlrdy lll tlrc nttaclred char't. ft shows tJurt lap Lrnd sholftltlr belt 

systerrrs,nl.",cl,ql.rly nrore effective thtn air brss aione in 

occupunt 

trrreventing 

1'atalities-prirrrarilv becunse belts ki.cp ptloplo fr.orrr l,einE 

tl*orvrr ont oI thc ca.r'. As r me'tio'ed crrr:ricr, ieslrlrint svstems rrie 

1:ll:,,1,to pr:rf'rm. Lwo basi* f.'ctitnrs-keepiirg o"",tpuni* ..ecur.*ry 

rryltlun the car drrring crashcs, and r:edueing lhe'ieverity of the oceu_ 

pant irrrlrtrct rvith tho crrr intirior. t3elt sy--iterrrs pcrfoi""r, ir"tl. i,;;;_ 

ttons t:ll'eciivclvl air fuag svstcrls-prrr.f6rln-grrly 

.tvrlflt orre.,tir ]rags ar.,l still 

1\-e nrst (:oilcervcur thern to be-a, suprlrior erash lrrcl-in froDtrrl 

co]lisions. 

'IJrc.v 

tlo not,kee,p occupa,nl;s sec,i"elv in pi,liu,'ir,,'r"unv otlrer: 

h.ils 'J' colli_.;i.ns, sueh as side ir'parlts or. ,,oilol.eis. ft's imTroitant t' 

recflfi tlrilt firu chances of baing ki]led irr an ar:ciclerrt are firlr tirnes 

qleatgr if tho occulru.t is e'ieiied fr:om the ctrr- trrn,' trr*v ol'e it tr* 

relniluls lllsrde. 

, The strrdv *Lso shows that a combination of front seat air bng-*. ;nnhelfs 

antl inter:loclrs provirle"s about the slrne. 1rr:otectiorr as i* pirtli,i,,A 

bv tho firll.belt-l974 restr:rint, sy.stcrrr- tr;rilth'cr', ;t it,iii.,nt"- firnt lan- 

D()rrs wrilr rnterlo{:l{s wrll $avc abo[t lrs many lives ns will air bafus 

alone-Jhat is, air bags without bclts. 

,rneidentully' 

a strrdv-reported in ,r.ne of 1g?B hy Ga'erar Motors. 

whir:h lras hee' r'cftl'red to enrlicr this rnorni'g, a;ipears to ar:rive ad 

tii 

essentiallv tho srlme concrusio's cven thorr!.i., 

irsccr- c*ff*o"e't 

meihorlolbgy. 

'l'he'rl 

t:,iii'tre no disprrte, we belie.ve, *s to the efiectiveness of lap ancl 

sho'lrler bt:lt svstems'whcn they aro worn. ,tctla"r-t rti;eft irt \i"1""; 

by I)r. I)onald -Huelkc of the llnivusity ;+-trii;i,îfii'n*"*Jt} 

ror'(rt (icn(rrilt 

o, rr" 

-Nlotor-s_a.nt[ oilrers, vtrrify lrryonrl qrre.stion t]re lifc_ 

l:,1:'fl Tll,,e,of,tlre comtrined belt systu*. in Aistrariii, t,igr,*;y r-i"rltJeS 

(Ilopllerl alrrrrrst ll{) pcrrr:rrt after it w+rs rcqlilqcl bV inw that trelt 

systc'rs llc ryor.n i'cn.s equipped with them, even thorlgl-, o.iv ulro,ii 

?0 pcrr:ent.of-the cars norv iri uso in Australin.,;;;d,il;p-*;itf, irrp 

and shorrlcler belts. 

Thc pri'cipal ndvantage of nir bags is that thev wirl automaticailv 

provrcre some plotectron to persons who would othci.wisc be endanscreil.

43 

[y their unwi]lingess or t]reir failure to use t]re belt system. fn the 

past, most people have in fact not used the lap nnd, prrrticularly, thc 

ihorrlder heits ilrovide.d in thcir cars. The aclurijristratiorr hu,s thetleforc 

rntrtrds,tedl thri cleve,loptncnt of devices that would provide so-crrllud 

"ptrssive" protection, i'cquiring no action by occuparits. I'he justi{ictrtibrr 

for tliut coursc of action'must be premised on two assumptions: 

1. TIre passivc rcstlrrjrrt rvill aiTorrl sut-rstatrtialiy LIit sttnc tleglr:o 

of protection a,s otirer s.ystcrns; 

0. 'llt., usage lat,e of -active, i'estraint Bystems sa,nnot be significantly 

incraasecl. 

trVt: bclieve that neither of these assumptiotls is correet. First, it is 

elear tlrat ail tra,gs lr,lotrtl do not 1rr:ovitle irs nrttr:h lrottintilrl for r;ltving 

lives and redur:ing injurics ns cotultirtctl tlelt s.ys{.errrs, wlttltt t,hcy a_re 

wor:n. Anr'[ sccotr,i, we, aro cortvincxrd tlrrrt thc Arnerit]un prrblic can be 

inclutred to weilt the cotnbitrtlcl ltelt s.r'stcnt. 

Forcl sulvcys shorv that a,clcling ru belt light rrncl ltu.zztr retnitrder 

systern Lo 7972 model vehicles clicl increuse laphelt ttsage from 20 pqlc-ent 

to 42 pcrcrtrtt. It lerrrllitrs to btr seeu horv liiglr ilre_uslr,ge rtttt: will 

go with the 1{i74 rnodel strrt'ttrr intcr'loclc sysl.etn. lVe believer the rats 

will risc substantirrllv. We rn'ill conchrct stutlies to dtlternrine the rate, 

lrncl tlro resrri{s will ht: known rvitliin t ftlrv ttttttttlrs, or wii,hill a I'eftr 

at, rnosf,. 

I,lxlrerienee in Australia antJ elsewhcro inclicates tha't usa'gc rates for 

comtrinecl bqilt systcrns cnrt lxr t'aist:il as high as ?5 lrtrltlent-I lrt'litlvo 

f herr,rcl 80 pcrccnt earlicr this morrtirrg--{.fv(ln without a starter interloeli. 

tJrr,-rrgh lcgislatiorr rc:rltriritrg tltnt l.relts lrtr {astt:necl rt all tinrcs. 

Tt shoulcl lio notid that rrroicr ancl mole cortntl'ics at't: rnot'ing torvard 

mzr.nclator:v belt rrsagc Jt:gislrrtiotr, r'ltther fhirn trlrvrrrd llassive dcr-iceS 

srreh a$ air bttts. To'onr knowleclge, Ii'or{ rvns tfic first-alto ml1lftrcfrrrcl 

tq nresi'plblicly f6r State le.sislatiorr lcqliring tftat [e]ts be 

br.rr:lrtr:d, rind *e- hollc tlrat tlrc full rveiglrt of lhe Fccleral (iovernrnertt 

v'ill inrlerrtl soon be placccl behind that efTort. 

As s|qwn on the chnrt, I'orfl estiml,tes thrrt belt systems will save ae 

m1,ny livcs as lir bags a'lonc, even if tlte usage rate is onl.y abqrtt 60 

I)erlt0IIt. * 

fn short. we beJieve that both prernises on which passivc restririrrt 

rectuir,:rnents a,r'e ltascrJ rre false] Tn arldition, wc believe the pufulic 

irrtn'est rr:rrtrit'cs tlrlrt t thiltl {rrt'tol'he talien irrto account-tJre costs of 

rcstrailtt sristcms rela,tive to tlte t'esrtltittg bentfits. 

Wrl can. of course, spealr onlv about lrordts eost projections- Out 

data rlso jlro',r'tr orr llic c'l-rnlt sltlrir- that the rctnil plitru'trqrrivalent, that 

is lhe $uqgested rataij price, rr-itlrottt marlinlt for t:onrpaly ptrrfit. ql,11 

flnnt:;lrit'rrir. lrrrg s-ystern wo1'lcl lxl-rrlrolt $215. or r1o1c thn,1 dorrble 

that of the 1g?4'mbdel lap nlcl shorrlrlcr 6elt system witl startcr 

interlock. ---Iri 

,,the.r worcls. the inrlividual who will wear his belts would bo 

deplir-t:d lrncler n ilassive S1'stcnr Of tlx: opUtlrl unitV for substantiu,llV 

mote proteclon ilrlct at tho lame tirne, woril.l puy *o." than doubft: th"e 

n"iT'ur. 

bass can provide really effective protection on-lY when used 

tosether wilh tapbêlts, not only rvil] the c,ost of the _air bag system be 

evtn higher, b.t whatever nclvantirgcs there mnv be to thc concept

4 

of nassivitv will be diminished or lost. If indeed you need to buckle 

rr. ldpbelt to make air bag efiective, then you can gl.in equivalent protection, 

at rnrrch lorver r:dst, simpl5'by buciiling a co*rntrineil trelt syst-em. 

We think it worrld rnake emincnt serrse to see wlrat usa,go ra,te can be 

nchievecl for the three-point system before taking actio-n that would 

recluirt: dropping stanclrrrd equipment belt systems, with tlreir proven 

elTectivenesi,în'Tnnot: of a mucir more costly "ptssivett restrai-nt systenr 

thrlt probablv rvontt sfivs lls rnuny lives. 

In slliti of these rcservations, Ford is continuing its air bag developmcnt 

efl'orts. Without regnrtl to any other consideration, so long as 

the ruJe on occupant restraitrt-standarcl 9O8-renrains in its pr:esent 

form-that is. rfr+r.ndatins pas$iv(r lestraint-irord must continue its 

atternpts to mbet the variilui rcquirements as they bcccune effoctive. fn 

acldition. wc lecognize that lir bas systems may be fulthcr irnproved so 

that thci'corrlrl l-recort'e n relrs,rtinble a]tcmaiive to belt sviterns for 

t,hose carl buycrs who u'e willing nnd tblc to pav the cxtra co,"st involved 

for thc courlort flnd corrverrien-i:e they mayôlicr, as compnred with a 

frrll belt system. 

Wc Lbinh people nre goinq to fincl the improved 1974 belt svstems 

much easirrr to fasten rnrl nruch more convenient and eornfort*ble to 

rvear tha,n rrresent svstems. I'ersonally. f find it hard to believe tlrat 

many c&r biryers ryoirlcl lle $'illing to nriv a substant,itr,l price nrcrnium 

for lin nir trn"g svritem that will bi'. ltisd stfo. merelv to ai'oid tire minor 

ineorrveniencd oI lru.:kling the improved be.lt s.ystems. I{owover, if the 

market proyes otlrerwise, we worrld probahl.v ofier air bags ns an 

option, althourrh thc _priee_of a low volumo nir trrlg option iiriglrt bo 

considcrrrbly }iigher tEan ths estimates shown on oi'r dhart whiih assume 

100-percent installution. 

fn view of these considerations,_Fordts present air bag development 

work is corrcelltrated on advanced enEineiring ratJrer than on in immerliate 

production profrrftrn. T!-e rrre ,iccking fo rcso]ve such teehnical 

isstres rs leliahilit.y. servicc life, rroise levcls, tbricitv of gases. irnproved 

proterltion of n frill ranse of occuprrrrts, the develonment of a ivsrcm 

for sr'nller-cflr'$, rin improved diagnostic readiness systern and'lowcr 

cost lnd weight ohiectives. 

rrr r:otrrilusion, w-e helieve that air bags are not the onlv satisftretorv 

fornr of pflssenE(:r restraint, ()r errerl fhe rnost desirnble forrn. Thcii. 

principal nclvnrrtngc oyor a full belt system is thnt thc air bass rrrovide 

pt'otectio' for people--who will not wear.trelts. \tr'hen worni'hirwever. 

helts offer substantially more protection than cnn be proviclcd hv air 

bass alone. Air bags c

[The table follows:] 

45 

: 

RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OT DIFFERENT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS (ASSUTIES IOO PERCENT USAGB 

R63traint systofi 

l. Harn6ss systBm;3.point hsrnEss, with interlftk, for driver Bnd right front passenger; 

laD beltg for oiher occtJ0ants----------- 

2. Air bsg with lap belts and interltrk (as in systam l) tor front seat occupants; leD bslts 

for oth6r occuDants- 

3. Air bag only forfront occupdnts; lap belts f0r rear occupants----- 

4. Lap belts lorall occupants; int6rlock (as in syttem l) for frontoccupant$_____,.....,. 

5. Air bag only for all offlpadts- -- 

Rolativ6 

otfdctlvonEs$ Estimat6d 

in Plevonting rotail price 

fetelitiB$ squival6nt 

I A cost estimale for this sy$tem is not av8ll8blo eE the dd3i8fl is unknown et this time; the cost would b6 substrntia lly 

over those shown for svstdmi 2 snd 3. 

Senator l{aRrnn. The difficultv that we find with some of these studies 

is that they are rrrade unrlar circumstanees which ftre not reality and 

for fhat purfbse f am looking fonvarrl to the continuetl utilization of 

therse in a real world contlition, rvhich is not just clesignerl to try to 

find the results. 

I don't in any wa,y me&n to say that the tr'ord Motor Co. has not been 

attcmpting to stimrilnte rerrl accident conditions. 

If I can mention iust one itern rvhich cloes concern me. that is that 

therc appears io be ileveloping a mood of a contest and cbnfrontation 

again-which I statccl earlierl-I hopccl we could got away from-between 

so-callecl seatbelt aclvocates aircl air bng advicates. " 

- And I dontt really givc a clamn rvhich rvinsl f just want to lrnow how 

i1 th9. worlcl you aie going to bring down thc dcrrth toll. And f guess 

that that is what voll rrre savinq. 

I just hopo thai rvc don't'have people who get themselves into such 

fi-xcd positions thnt they fecl that thei- cannot. in any way reverse whfit 

thcy previouslv thought might have been the right result. 

XTr-. Seonnsi. tt t mighi'respond to that. iSenator Hartke, f eertainlv 

agree with your position ihat it is both prernrtnrc ancl unnecessary 

to adopt the position that there is on1,1' one devicc; tirrrt it is the 

p&ntrcea that is gding to deal with the 37.000 fatalities that now are 

ocrrrrlling ea,ch vear to people who are insicle automobiles and crashine. 

Oui concern, and'it tornes through hcre-f mcan it to come 

thiough-is that. as we understancl 20ti as it is presently written, it 

implies a total dedicrrtion to a single r:oncept-namelv, paisivity. 

And pcrhaps it is baserl_ on oui anrriysi-s of the Australian experience, 

on our o\l,n Surrr(rys, both real rvorld ancl othcrwisc, and on our 

engineerirlg rvolk. bnt rve br:lier-e that placing sole leJiance on passivity 

is perhaps disconnting b1' an unneccssary rlcgree thc allility and 

willingness of people as demonstlrrtert elsewhere in the worlcl to do a 

littlc soniethinE for themselycs if indccd .we trv a little hnlrler to induce 

them to do it. 

That is not to sny thnt a, pa,sgive svstem. air bass or anv other svstem, 

should rrot be ir real wor'ld optirin fol those p?iople rrfio prefe.fit. 

Senator I{anrrin. Sienator Cook. 

t8-O80 0-78--4 

I00 

l0s 

64 

64 

59 

t9o 

270 

2I5 

70 

(r)

46 

Senator Coor. Mr.. Seerest, f think the-chairman l14ls put his finger 

on it. f hope rvc dontt get into t battlrr of cither,/or. But I do have to 

qay that what we are really doing is kind of a clcgrer-, of neglcct, excclrt 

for ths standards that I hopc will pr.evail in i'074, ancl'ivr,, ciln ccrlpiqty 

get rr goocl tcst of it-tihinf thit whrri we are tloing is rclmitting 

th*t we ttatt't cottvitrce the Dublir: that thev onsht to brr safetv consciorii 

end as a .esull rf o'r addission of ftilure tiren we obviouily ]rave to 

find another method. 

And to this extent it reallv bothers me that what we nre savjns is 

that we hrrve lost this battlc ind therefore we hav. to prrt snecihc Emphasis 

orr completo pilssivity. And r must say that thii retlir.y bothers 

me. 

I notice it in ]Ir. Martenst statement. and f notice vou addressed 

yourself to it. Hr: snid ('Ancl lr-hen morc cost is adclr:d to tiiese svsterrrs to 

overconre their Present shortcomingFr r have littlc doubt that in production 

volume the air lrag mrry even win the cost battle.t, 

First, lct rre say r am not int-erestccl in thc cost. r trm into'ested in 

safety. R_ut wg aTc going t-o tnlk about it, and. obvi.usly, if thc industry 

prcst:nterl it in its first form, tr$ options, then obviouslv the rninuf.t 

you offer: an option you olTcr the pricle clilTer:ential. 

and to that cxtent l''ish you worrld address yourself to it because, 

as you have r think intlicatcd in your statement,if you [fo to trr option 

systemr then you are goirrg to increase you. cost liccrrriie vou are not 

going to llut it on as a full trrrorluction line item. 

And to that extcnt I wisli you would kincl of go over those ligures 

for the record at the end of your statement so fb *on get an idea of 

what we are talking *bout. 

r think the ac.id-ent$ we have seen here are what we wourd all consider: 

life-saving act:irlerlts rrs a, r,esujt of air bags. I dontt thinl< therc is 

any qrrestion allort{, it. But let's talk rrbout the* autorrrobilcs t}rat have 

front-errd coliisions. The.y dontt havc rrll the standards. The air bags do 

inflnte, What a'e wo talliing abo't in'epl*ccme't costs? IVhrrt r'e wc 

talking about in reinstrrllation costs? Whtrt are we tnlking rbont in 

regilrtl to tho reimplerrrcntatitll of that system as wtr talk iibout it ils 

a illst factor ? 

Recaust: f would like to hear those remarks from you,, too, if f cou]d. 

Mr. sncrnsr-. well, senat.r', turning to 'ur .hlr:t"turd loo'kinrr at thc 

cost and p_r:icc- cstinrates, price estirnates that we have attach*d itr ttro 

rlght-hancl t:olurrr.n the dollar'figurcs shown tlrera aro thc estimates of 

the lorrg-term price ()vor an unlontlollerl crrr'. r'rris is a car with no 

belts or interlocks or buzzers or air bags or anvthing else. 

senator co'n. Yes, b*t yorr considEr thoso'*s neTv prod*ction items. 

r\Ir. SncHnsr. Yes. 

senator Ltoon. Arentt these cost-effective prices on new pr,ocl'ction 

itcms ? 

Mr'. sncnnsr. That is correct. And our estimate is that trre harness 

system with shoulder hgness, incrti-l,reel for easy movornent, laphelt, 

ignition inte'locli and the buzzer rrnd liEht svstemL. * ith lanheltsin all 

the seat positions. tdds aborrt gg0 at re[ait t"o the cost of thb 1g65 revel 

car with no cquipment at all. 

I_f you add ai,r bags to that and keep the lapbelts and the interloek 

and sirnply replacr) the shouldcr belts. plarle the air bags onlv in the

47 

two front seat positions, driver and front prssengerr the retailer price 

on a stanclrlrl t,qrtipmcnt lirrsis lises bv $180 to $270. _ 

If vou then rlelete the laphelts aricl, of (:oursel the interloek from 

the tiro front positions, lea^ving lapbelts as the protection t'r)r rearscat 

occrupunts, the value drops to fti215. 

That ii a, gtrD l)(:tweelt cu$e 1 and case 3 of somervhere in the range 

of $125 assuriiiirg that wc have * staudard cquiptnent *cross-thtr-board 

instrrllation. 

thc cost *s a limited production option would, of course, be higher. 

But. at the strrne tittre, i think that 'r.r 

rt perfeetly lirrrsible way, Senator'.'to 

tcst thc le$pollse of the market t-o an rrllernate device, if you 

wili. 

Personallv, I dontt believe-Herb, you may want to comment on 

it-thrrt if you loqk clorvn the rottl tucl esnrniric thc potential for cost 

redrrc:tiorr or coSt irtcrcastr from further develolrtnenf or rcfinc,ment of 

cither qf thc trvo cqrnpctiug st'stems, that tliere is any rcirsonable 

chancr: that the cost of tir eflcijtii-e htrrness s-vstem rvith interlock would 

rise atrywherc nea,r the lcvel of the (:ost of the nir bag systcm' 

I am rrgain lemitrtletl of Austrnliir rvhit:li seemingly-rrtrd I have 

heard no iefrrtfttion of this from any of the witncsses or fl,ny of the 

Ilatrlers presented-has rernritrcd at. remember. & u$fl,ge rate of ?5 to 

bO perc*int without thc iutellottk system, tttttl. thcrefori, at a cost substantially 

less than fr90. 

Now, we are nof apparently ready to go that far. Eut we wa,nt to 

trv the'ilterlock svstt}ir ancl sce rvhat rve fiet for S90 beforc we commit 

to"well over,$200. 

As to the "rEplacement 

replaeement cost eost issue., rssue, Senator Cook, L,ook' f I ca,ntt ca,n't qunntifq qunntr4l fo; to_r 

you thc replnce.ment 

replaclement co-st co,st tlf ot thtr the air atr bag hag rnodule rrlcrdule Lrecauge Lrecfiuge_'wel-ust we j,ust.dontt oon't, 

j'et vet have eiro*gh enouEh e,xpe'ie.'* exper"letl(:e to 

"to 

measure 

Illeasure the tfle frequenll rreqtlellcv orsrrlDur 

ti-llt]r:]!i:1".:l 

valving YdMllg degrcEs UEITLED of Vr. irancl dcfotnritl-.. But it is clear from the pi 

l'(.rrL'r 

Prctules 

*" ii*t* se"li that it is not insubstantial. 

I think perhaps another serious problem is the retrofit question' As 

I understanct th-e Arrstrnlian la'rv, they require now tltat when a cnr 

orisinally mauufactnred and sold wiihorrt rr lapbelt is resold. when 

titft is tiansferred. t]re car must be retrofitted with a ltptrelt, and, of 

course. this ofiers I think all ellormouslv efrective 'wa-v to accelerate 

the sprenci of u proverr device tltrorrgltont the ctrr population. 

Seirtrtor Coon. T,et me give you ariother problenr- Let's stt]' f have a 

minor accident on thn ro*rtd but the impact is sufficient to inflate the air 

bag svstcm and the nrl is still drivable. It cau be drivetr arvay. Is it 

'6ag?"Doesntt'that Eoinq to be a Dractical mattel to drive thtrt rutotnobile with a deflated 

represellt rr seriotlsr dangerorrs probletn? Because 

afttr tho utilization if air btrgs as rve har-e seen today, obviou-sly' 

none of those cirls rvas clriviLrl-'. Norr, rve know thi,t that does 

not represent the bigEest 1:ert:ctrtage ttf nccidents on the highrvny. 

Norv. if we rre savinE-that the nir fng will not cleflate at the normal 

accident. rvhich'rte ktio'tt cfluses a trem-endons amount of broken nrms, 

fncial tl'oblems. teeth kttorlked out. trnd so ou and so forth, and vet 

the crr-conrleivablv corrltl lrtr ch'iuble, erenrt we_reallv saying thnt with 

an irrfl*ted systeni tnd thrltr its dr-rflation thnt that ca,rr even thtlugh it 

is mechonictrllv clrivable, is utrdrivable because of tha cleflntecl sy.stem 

ancl t]rerefore 

-we arc goirrg to ltave to utilize arrcl seliously consider a 

greal cleal more potenlial ibr rvrecker service ou the highw-ays ?

48 

Mr. Sncnnsr. f clontt know. 

senator coox. Tlris is the point rtm tryi'g to malre. r44rat, cloes one 

do whcn you aro out on r-I)l-) with the traiiir: lirtt is .", itr*i* j,i i,nrrrc i 

{lt lf ,q?," r'e.nrle. yo*r' ca. ch.ivable ancl th* Ixtic,e-ruii-t,;,Co' you 

*:i_t_- ]L1; *tt1+ yoy say,.((Yes.".What clo vou db rvith tlrris ilring you 

lrave got hanging from the str:r:rirrg cohrrnri ? 

Ifr. X[lpc;t_1. Wc]l- Senator', rve rrr-'tually have done very little in evaluaturg 

thrs. I worrld say lirst the, ril bags for tlre right fiont anti ccrrrer 

li:::t].q1l o:T1q'."t,q,lnba trlv . r{ter their. dclloym*enr woulcl just sag 

fl()wn Io tne floor and ilrnt\vontt tre tlre ploblem. 

senator c.ori. rtm not worried ab'out ttre p&ssenger. r,m worried 

alxrut the clriver. 

Mr'- Mrsrur. on the steer:ing rvheel we reailv havenrt evarrrated it. we 

rvorrld belicvc. howovep-. thul'tiredesig' *o.j.l ho, ""ai ti.at,-yiir could 

accomrn ocla tc th i s sit u r-r t i on a f t er: d e lrlfv nrent. 

r thi'lr one of the points yon rve"e ciorniirf to, however, is that with 

an; accitlent that is sgvere onougrr to deproi or'oi" troe ii *itt a*plov 

all of them, so that the repair costs of l,irttinf it tu"k I'to ;;;i;;';irfconriition 

rrgrin lirp r1y trciideni 15ni ;='- 

Scnator (loort. It is ri total cost ? 

M,r, Mrsqrr fcontin'ing]. Thir"ty-mi]es-an-hour impact and above 

woukl srrstain lepair r:ost in totrrl. eich trlmc. 

r think the irisulance irrdustiy and Allstate rnsurance in talking 

almut tho effe,ct of air hags'pon'the insrrrir'ce rate^s. .whcre 

r il]-i;;!, 

thev wcre sPeaking rnore ipe,lifically with rellarcl to the nersonal liabil_ 

tfr portions_ rud all, shoultl inelude in thcir:projection-of late recluetlons 

tlso wtrtrt thcv r'voulcl cronsider to bc tlreir cxpelience with regard 

to rellrl,Ir costs. 

Arirt r worrld liko to just Htld one acklitional point if r mav. senator 

rrnr:tlic, .vorr operrecl this heari'g -'*ro npp.o1,i:iotetv-*ilt i"di-.ii"s 

you' impatience rvith rcgaltl t'o thii rvjrolc'situatiorr and inclicatcE 

1_s,*"1* 

of.urgcnr:y. And I thjnlr onc of the points we are trying to 

malie hcrc is we agree rviih the sen:e of urgencyl anri it is for thai rcason 

tlrat we nrc quite concelnecl nhout the fi"esdrit requirerne't hanging 

oycr the total inclustry's hcrrds that we'must, by d clate have tofitti 

passivc systems. 

rt Rs m.ch ils says anvthing vou're workinq on that cloes not have 

aT opportnnitv to meet the passiye system possibilitV is reallV a, wrste 

oJ tir'e anrl vorr .sho.uldntt bc rr-.r'king on'it ancl, flrther tirarr that, 

thc point was rrrarlc that vou have to consitler tJre aicl that anv of thesc 

systems will give us with regar.cl to raclncing the total fatalitv rtumber 

or inirrry nnnrber on the hasis of the rate at which it can becomc cfiestive 

in replarting Ihe poprrlatitln of vehicles. 

Norv, #e have cars now that are cquippcd with scatlnlts. 'w'e have 

lott:--a abont the possibilitv of trying to increase thcir usnse through 

legislation-l,rul all. J.f ne iontirnie tij sny soathelts arc onli an intJrmctlin,fe 

solrrtion nnd arrr rea,lly going to So awa,y ancl irs lone. as eyeryone, 

r'e,sists their usaEe. evcrvone resists legislai:ion for theil".,=n, nrrd 

so forth, on the ground that there is a panacetr rlown the roacl, tlren 

any real,improverrrent is qo.ing to take ],riryer. I think it's going'to do 

irryparable_lrarrn to sa_tisfving r.our rcaI irirportant desires.' 

Senrrtor Hanrrir:. \Ite lrave li vote corni'g n]r. Let rne irrst make a 

comrnent. rrere is why r find criticism with thc bieness of tho motor

49 

industrv and the inflexibilitv of the bureaucracy and why I oppose 

trr-ing 'nu[ io write thinErs into Iegislation. 

f scc if yo* rriia]rt: the ilssurnptionl, q]rlch.T think is right, that 

th; bi;.;;;;t"*y l" Washingto' is ,'so i'flbxible that it canttot change 

ii-.r'tiri"a,'ittut It rrbsolurt.lrjsitYs yotl have to go to ptssive restlrrint, 

as tttur.,lt'tts f am cotrt:clnccl *ith"that f arrr also t:oricer'netl rvith this 

;ri;-o] i,,,ti-i".rtin rvhich exist,s in our American societv that rve trb- 

*olot*lf- Itn,-e bccortte so pariruoid_ in orrr opet'ntion that we no longer 

really ir"e Con,,,lrncd witlr saft:tr- but rve ill'c con(lel'ncd wrtlr lrow you 

irlfi=lu ltll tiirt*i.r:ot*, Ii-olcl, rrird Ohlysltrr, and Gt:nt:ral Motors, and 

tho , ltrircancltrls in IVashington, D.C. 

if;u' ttitt * got to lle willing to f;! 1l-regrl 

and modify it. ff vou haller fr-ot 

a,noilrcr pr.fr"n- to .o,ti* rTp urT.t it ttr* DOT and ih* Notiott,rl Highivav 

S*rfi,tya*.hat*r.er thrrt^ .'tfit is; I rr*-c' co\rld say their nnmeif 

ih;; ur{i so inflcsiSle thtrt they cflnrrot rccoguizc a {evice 

which is 

*tir*'tnr.tnrcl ililcl procluce safer arrtomobiles. then f sily \re h&ve 

Fl".uiia o, tttili'..t,,r of 'ur,r. orvn lvhich absolutely oug'lr]to.bc somewhat 

chanEed antl You ougltt to help chtrrgc that'- '\nd I t'ill say I will 

guarilutet: yoir thnt ?ven the firesidtlirts of each onq oj your comnanieS 

gr:t inad rt tlrtlir own brrrl'rrncrrr(ty 90 p0rTr.ut ot the tlme. 

^ 

IVe aie, in recess. I rvill [ie, rig]rt back. Thanli y.rr, gentleuren' 

IRecess.] 

Sc'atoi Ha*,r'nn. 1'1e next witness will be Mr. Ernest Stadrmnn, 

ui"" llii-"i.f"'nt, cttvilotttnent*l actir-ities slrrlf, ancl.Mr' 

.Lguis-Lund- 

*ftnni. executive director, environmental activities steffr Getreral 

Motors Corp. 

STATEMENI0FERNESTSTAEKMAN,vIcEPRESIDENTFoRGEN. 

EBAI MOTOBS ENVIB0NMENTAI ACTMTIES STAFI; ACC0M' 

PANTED BY lours c. luNDsTRoM, ExEcuTrvE DIRECTOR' 

ENVIRONMENTAI ACTIVITIES STAFF: DAVID MABTIN' DIREC- 

TOR 0r'AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY ENGINEERING; AND OHABLES 

srraRP, IEGAI srAFF 

I{r. SreRxrtew. Mr. Chairmf,n' my name, is Ernest $tarkman, and 

f ttn vicc president for Geneltrl ]iotors environmc:ntal activities stafr. 

witl-, ,,,.r,r i:6drry are Louis Lunclstronr, rvho sits gr] rny right 1.on rny ia1 

riEht, D[rir] Xfar.tin. direetor of automotive safety englrcer'ing of that 

saine staft; flnd orr rrv left is Mr'. Charles Shar'p of our' logal sitrff. 

Wo ar,c'plcasecl to be here today to cotntnent ort Genernl Motorst 

prolfram to'llhasc in tho air cushion sysiern. General Motols first ilnirou*tl,:*.1 

tlrt'ilevclopment of srrch systern in 19?0. 

I s'ill st'art by revitr$'irrg thc iurr:ent status of our program, nnd 

Mr. l,unclstrottt,"u'lto htrs becn itr chalge of thc corportt,tionts automotive 

safety program fol tnlttry ]'llllllstlti[ th"t't prcstl+t a re.llol't otr the 

results to"clirte'itf o,rr proglnirirvhich wc believe will be of irrterest to 

thc comrnittee. 

At the tirne rve receivccl llr:. Magnrtson's letter inviting uS to trppear 

at this hea,r.ing, orrr' lrlan to intlocftice, orr alr optional basis_..air cushioneqrrippet,l 

19?4'inocte'l crrrs lurfl bcen delayed, a,s rve-_htcl eallicl inforrned 

Si""*io"v t1,i1cgar. 1\'e relrr:ta1t-ly ilerrtilr.tl that desisiotr 1ot be- 

"n'.,r* **. dicl not''rvish to Offel' thc iystem an option but because the

50 

spec.iffeations-for the test dummyo which is the, device we must u$e to 

celtifr- compliance of thc air cirshion with the pa$sive .n*ii"l"t ,._ 

qurrernents of snfety stancla,rcl 208. were not settled. The srrecificalions 

werc strll rn the forrn of n proposnl bv the IIIHTSA. 

- while we had somc t'r,,isorito helievo that firial specifications would 

be is.sued around Arrgust 1, there rvas still the quesiion of wrreiner ttre 

test' clummies wc have.been using rnlquld be iri ag"ee,m"rf ""a, -.-;"" 

t-I,T' 

ryhgther th c speeifi eation s #oultt lr* r"b=,a iiE"i il.".r-* rl""ge cl by 

otllers in the courts. Beca'se of these risks, we dirl not feel the rJquireh 

substantial commitrnont of rcsou'ces wrls walr,anted at that time. 

. As of to$ay, havirrg carefully stuclierl the final trist clummrrspecificatlons 

rust iss.ed by NrITsA. we are pleased to repo.t thal oirr dummres 

seem to lre in sufficient agreemelt. Thus, the only questiorr still 

present is whether arry lega1 rlCtiolr ivill be taken bv scirrrdnn* to chal_ 

lenge these spe..ifieatiirns. this possibilitv doas e*isi, a"a *o ilno* or 

no r4-rry that this risk can rlefinitivelv be disposed of. Thus. we have no 

&s$urance, that once startcd the program will not have to iro hnlied at 

some arbitrarv point irr the prodirr:tion scheclule. 

_ Ncvcrtheless. despite the-fam that rve stilr faee this possibility, we 

fl-r'e prepRrfld to bcgin prothrr:tion_of the _systems to lx+ôfrered as opt'ronal 

eqrrrpment on sorne of o*r 1974 model cars jrrst rr$ soorr o,s porrihle. 

Hôpefully, erren if the-spc.cifications arei chailengctl, the I{,HTSA 

wrll lind means that v'ill *llow this program to piocced to its 

conclusion. 

JVe have decitled to move because we need the additional exnerience, 

both in urtnufactrlling and irr cLrstorner service, that onlv lsuch 

progralns will provicle. ]rrrch more experience will bo'r'equired'before 

we have g-lo'gh inforrnation to precliit reliably how the air cushion 

rrr ll perform irr 

:{:ll,1l 

trctual rsc unde' t broad-specrnrrn of operating 

cotlctrttons. 

our intent still is fo_r^lil euslrion svstems to he available as optional 

cquip_melt d*ring thc 1974 moclel veu" on the B*ick nt**it" o"h Rl"iera. 

the oldsrnobiltl'(98," tho Toronaclo. and most cudiliac moclets. 

The air e'shiorrs can bo offered in thesc cars only after thev have 

lroen testerl with dummics r'eeting thc ncw sirecificlti'ns. This m'st 

lle clone in ordcr to bc able to certifv that thev are in comptiarice with 

the. p.assive rastr*i't option of motor vehicle snfety ri'""Jota zog. 

This is an extensive testing program involving fr:ontal brlrriel'ilrashes 

at 30 mi/h' angula,r impaiti at B0 mi/h, and laternl moving lrnrrier 

erashes nt 20 mi/h. 

Additional tests are- also reqrrirecl nt speetrs berow that for air 

cush,ion cleplo.vment. The time rr-ecessalv to comprete sueh testing- *i1l 

lre about 2 to 3 months, assuming no unforeseen irroblerns arise. 

Senafor lTenrnrr. Let me say that f am glad yor, a,"cllloving io"ward 

with this progrrim, but r thinlr it denron.strates again the stiiement r 

trtnde._ [ 'irrst cannot seo how in tlre world we cfln hn,vc so mrreh burcaucracy 

tierl down to anv real change to gct somc t.yprr of "estraint system 

which worlrs. 

- rTere 1'on have a system where you have the Natjonal Traffie safety 

tloanl putting ont a specifiention on restrnirrts, nncl hcre you fll,e (:om_ 

in_q forwarcl rvith rrrr itlea which vou think might solve the problem. 

Then 'iye are frrced rvith the possibilitv of lawsuits, you say,'which f

51 

understand now m&y be out of the wf,y, but you a,re faced with the 

possibility of a larvsirit, 's-hit:lnvorrkl pi'rividc tltnt becausc of the fact 

that you haventt nrct thu lerluireurents llut dorvn by tlrc ltnreaucraey 

that vou couldntt proceetl rvith something else, rvhich mighl itr your' 

opinion - come forltirrd with rr better solution to ir very seveie plolilem. 

I have to admit that it ta,kes onlv tr, bursaucratic rnind to create such 

a jungle. 

Absolrrtely, f mcan the only peopla that, I crrn see making any moncy 

out of that proposition or doing any good for them is us le,wyers. 

Go aherd. 

Mr. Sr:nnxuaw. Thc arrtngements for acturrl large-scale produetion 

of the cornponents nncl assernblv of this uniclne sy$tcn] tlust also be 

institutecl. Jlhis inclrrtlcs cornp()nent fnlrlication, air cushiou tnodule 

asserublv and clistlilrrrtion rucl sclreduling itr the crr assenrbly plants. 

Assurniirs thc test lesrrlts trrrr frlvorahle. ii is rroneeivilble thatihis will 

pcrmit sales of 1974 plorluctjon cars rvith optional prssive air cushions 

tlrorrnd the first of the verrr. 

While we havr: not yet dccided on the manufacturerts suggested retail 

price for this optiorr on 1974 ruodcls, our culleltt thinking is ihnt it 

ivilI be in the ri'ea of about $l(){-}. If thc front ltrp}relts aie also pur 

chtrsed, tlre plice rvould be trlnrrt $2ir additionrul. You rnight be iriterestcd 

to knoiv that the t:oslr of rler-elopmtnt rvork on the s\i.stcttr in 1t)71 

ln

52 

Senator lfanrsn. Cov_er them, will you ? f don't want to repear 

sotncrthing wc ]ravc hcrrrd. 

Mr' sr,cnxlrarv. 'wq also have with us, parkccr on constit,tion Avenrte, 

two oJ that 1.000-cal Chevrolet air"^cushion flcct. We woulcl be 

pleasqcl to slrou,. llresc to vou at the end of onr testinronv. 

a, Itr1llrcr ofltho 

., 

members of yoru committee havc *,Irea,rlv driven 

tllesc cill's. 

scna'tor rr,rnrnn. r don't mind driving one. How about full time? 

Can vott lluv them ? 

- NIi. srenirrrnx. IVe should be able to sell you one around January 1, 

Mr. Chairrrrn,n. 

Senator Fl.rnrxr. What if I got lrilled betweon now anrl then? 

Mr. Sr.trrrirlary. Wcl .rvoulri nlorrr'n. nIr. Chairman. 

sena't'r: rT,rnr*n. JVill vo. d. s'm-ething for mc then? rf that happen5a,nd, 

you knorv,.it might be a trlessing to all of you-bnt lct nlre 

sfl.y lt thnt hnpl)e[s wrll you crcrlt r]. monrrment to the urrknown automohllc 

yrctrm ! 

Mr. Sr.lnnu,rrir. Perhaps there should be. 

sentr,tor Iranlrrn. Thcre are nore ol'these being kilted than there are 

in the war even. 

Mr. Sr'.nnnlrall. Yes. sir. 

sonr.tor rrenrrrn, we nright as well hRve a monument and th*t will 

be sulficicnt, you knol, just a rnonurncrrt to tho unknowri,'rtomobilc 

vlctlrn. 

All right. Go right ahead. 

Mr'. Srnnnu,rx.-f worrkl like to introduce- 

Scnttor rr'tR'r'nn. Let me ask you a question. Are your technicians 

herc ? 

Mr, Sr.rnrrue.w. Mr. T,undstrom ancl Mr. Martin are both- 

Senator l'fnnrnr. Why_dontt rve Jrave roll bars throrrgh thc en,rs? 

rs thcre,any, l'cll$on 

5-hy 

the.y clon't? .l)o_yorr knorv what r am talking 

about ? You knorv, where thc: crrr ordinur"ily has rr fr:ont and Lrack tloor'-I 

at lcast it has rrt the back whele the seats comc together-rvhv couldntt 

y_orr iust Fut n, roll ba,r thro'gh t,hcl. insicle, liac it unclei s()rne of 

that chrome-ol f mean sonle of that naint ? 

Mr'. ITuNDS'rrtor,l. The crrr: st,Lut:trrre, is built with sufficicnt strength 

to take trrke car'o car'u car'o of ot the rr-rllovr.rr rollovcrr" rollov(x" t;ypr: typr: of rr,ccident. rr,ccide,nt. 

ur:ciclent. lfhcre lfhc_re lfhcre *.r,e *r'e allrrvsltu.r*.tiilv 

ahvrrys unusua rutlsuallv 

se,v()r'e 

stivol'e situations $lluiil,lons rvhcrc lvllL)l'(] the tne toll f,ol) can citn r:r.nsh, fT.usII. but I thc strengtli'of the roofs 

is a-tlequate for nlmost all conriitions today. 

Scnn,tor lf,l.n.rnn. For a roll ? 

Mr. Lurqns'rrrorr. Correct. 

s*nntor rr.q.rt'rrin. JVouldn't thtrt also eontribute if you hnd that in 

thore though, that sidc panclirrg? -r_hav. lookccl at ali'tliose cars, and 

cv(lrv (lnc of thern u'ont, you kno*, likc prrller rnache. 

_ Mr. r,rrmusrrtr)rr. Agai' the sicle strrrctrire of cars has been imnrovcd 

by silengtheuing the.pillals, the loclr stnrcture ancr the side'gu*rd 

beam so there is considcrnble weiglrt and sttength truilt in theia and 

tvpicallv hiclilcn frr)rn vrew. 

se'ator lrnnrnn. Arc thosc the result of standards set forth by 

whate,yer that n.eencv is ? 

Mr- Luxnsrnou. .ihe sidc str.et're cftme ahorrt as a vor.nta.v effort 

by GM initially. The loclr c*mr: i' ma'y yerrrs ago. Thc hi'fes and

58 

locks now as well as the side strengths are matters of Federal 

standards. 

Senator lflnrxn. Fine. OK. 

I trrlliccl to Senrtor' (]ook nbout this when we left here, and I dontt 

think it is possiblc really fot us probably to dlaft-that type-of -legislatiou 

rvhi[h would re,clrrircr nll se'.ltlre.Its to be.-J\re can drtrft the 

Iccislatiorr trut,Irr: thinkd it has a cottstitutional inhihition. He thinks 

mirl'be rvc ought to drrr'ft tttle for tho l)istrict of Columbia and force 

therrt to use it here. IVe liervc jurisdir:tion here vet. 

I thought maybe I had better cttt'r'cct thc record on that point. 

All right. Prrrcced. 

Mr. Sr,rnnmnx. I would like to ask Mr. Lundstrom then to proceed 

with a nresentatiol of thosc lcrnaining cilctrmstances in rvhicfu air 

bags rlrrpllyed a1d then to provide some other ligurcs. It shouldltt 

take too lonq. 

Senator ITrrntnp. Let me say again f am glad you are proceeding 

with this proffrarn. and to thc cxtent that I * b* helpfuUn lieeping 

that progiam-going, rvith keepilrg you out of litigation, f want you 

to know I arn comrnitted to clo that. 

Mr. Smnrirrlu. Thanh you. 

Mr. Lunnsrxou. It is a tnatter of record that General Motors has 

actively srrppoltecl the plogram of the Safety Acl_ministratiolr with 

..g-ot,i'to p,risit* rcstraiirts.-1)ilrticularly in the development of the air 

cusnlon. 

In the course of this progra,m we have, during the past B yeartt 

slptrlied elgineelinE [ari\vare to rl*I{TSA rv]ticfu rvas utilized in two 

srrcclssful a'i'r crrshiln lttrtrtttt voluuteel l)r'()gr'[lns. We also have devr:lopecl 

tlo succtssivcr generutions of tlic a-ir (rlrshion sysletu in the 

cour'se of imrrror-i lrE its llerforlll itllce' 

ft is this.sec.,,nd*genelrrtion slstem that has been installed in our 

GII {ickl tcst of 1,0d0 19?B Chcvi'olcts. 

'I'his is t}re Iirst retl-life usage 

of fullv passive friont serrt lestltittts in autorrrobile histoly. ISlicle']. 

The"filoO (iM c;rrs u'ith rrir cushions IIor\-tlr use al'c gll-rlrg ns the 

first ind.ictltion of tht',ir pclformtnce in irrtutl tulcitlcnt situtrtions. 

Althoush this number of irrrs is too sttrall ftlr stntistical surveys, their 

field rlcrifountrllce whcrn cc'rrrrlli'cd rvith 1t'er-ious slcd a'{ barrier tests 

rvc hirve contlrrr1tr:tl u'ill fulthcr our corrfirlcuce in thtl systcrn ot'point 

uD 'O+ anv Dossil)le we&kncsses tltrrtlvould rctluile correction. 

initiat iurtrortance is the fact that rriricushions have not inflated 

in 151 rninor 

'!Ye 

adciclent,s. are. then. more cottlidt:ut that the sensors 

will not deplov ^ ' the air cushions in trivial accidents. 

ISlide.] 

This pist .$atuldrry aftetnoon, July 26, at 2 r.30 p.m'' -tirc eighth and 

most receut accident deployurelt took- lrlace. The uir cushion cu,r'carryins 

ser-en peoplc-three irr tlu: front seat irtcluding in 1J.-ycar-old troyttiis 

strucli he-ad on in a blincl culr-r'lry a .ll]72 Chevrolet Impaln strttion 

wftgorl. lrnpnct slreed rvas just severe enough to activnto the air 

cusill0ns. 

Only superficial injuries were received by occupants of the air 

cuslrlon cilr, 

Wlr nre in the proeess of reviewiug nccidents similar to the air cushiorr 

cleployrnents*in our' field test brit in rvhic| the occupants were in

E4 

sttr,g{ard,prodnction cars.- At this timo it appears that most of the 

c'shr(xr 

air 

deploy're't acciclents were rrrt sriificie.ntlv i*o"i* * t. r:orrclude 

how rnuch lrrntct:tion the rrir crrshiorr rnav hlrve Dr'vided. 

rD the in-sfant:e of t],r: \rallcv I'arrr, Mo., aecifii:nt it. ilc lrtlierccl 

the 

thflt 

two girls did'ecervc $rgnrrrcrnr rrerrefii. It i;i;;;r;r.-t"rrit}i*r, to .,0_ 

!.ognize that rrrrrt:h more ficld eviclence witt-rre ;;,i;ir*i-i; cst16lis1 

thc overall eflcc:tivencss of air r.rushions. 

ISlidc.l 

rn adclit'ion to the eight accidents severe enough to nctivato the air 

11s11;gns.j\e {get }gs }ihd .151 less $cvc'e ;*l;,#,1r,;;,i"i ,."Uif_"t_ 

ot 

,n* 

Julv ?8 in 12 milli'n rniles of operation, irr rvhich the ailcushio's 

*:,':.1"*^ll*:tl?Ill'T-d.ittleed 

rlid ,,;f,;;i;]"J. it;;;, ;;;;;no si[nin"unt 

tniuries in thesc accidents. 

ISlide.] 

Thero has been one_inadvertent deplovmennt. rt oeenrreri late in 

eveni'g 

the 

on Juno rB. 'rhe car w*s triveli'g -t;;; il'-i; jo 

,iyt o' u 

str-ajg]!t,levol road in towell, Mass. 

ISlitle.l 

,, 

Only the passenger_cushion inflatcd, resulted in minor iniurv to 

rr)e wornflrr ocr:rrDnnt. 

'fhtl 

'we nrrtle clriver maintnined control of ihe"c; 

h've not rletcrmir"a *ttir' "*"iui"iy *h ;r, ;;,;;;i-iri,iinacl'ertg'lcJ..This 

is under intensive strrdy. we aie investig.ti,-,g-tli*, possibilrty 

ot fl, nrettunctrorr of one of the system cornponenfs or the pmsibility 

tltat sorne othcr ftrctol may htvc beien thc cnusc. 

overall, wc thus fnr nie pleasecl with the r-esuits of the field trial 

progr:arr), because it has shown us some initial sr,.rcess *hil* poi"ilng 

olt ir,rcas of prssible wcalrrress that rnav neecl rnrrection 'rir-rriirei 

elaboration on t:lre ficlcl trinl progltnr rrnri technjcal details of orrr nir 

eushion syslcrn trrc corrtained iri thrcc papers deliyerecl at tlre GM 

satet-,y semlnrrr rn June. with thc chairmtrnts per.rnission, we would like 

to submit thcsc for the recor,d.l 

ISlide.l 

^;!.'ring 

now to tho overall important qu-gstion of restraint system 

efiectryeness. we lrave. atternptccl.to rrtilize field ctata lrrd our eipc,ri_ 

glce !n testing, to stud.y the c:h'cctive'ess of ttt,iai n"t*rii "*ri,*itrt *.,tnnatrons,tlrnt 

may 

,bc 

used in thc nrrirr futrrre. The resulting preclietrons 

of their pot_errtial lifesaving capability took on such imirortnnce 

lllnt,*?Presentccl 

trree addi{ional tcchnical papers on t}ris sribject at 

tlrjt] 

lll.L\t 

safett, seminar. Ag+rin, Ml. Chairrnan,-we rvould like tb sub_ 

mrt thr:se pirpcls fol the record." 

A hlief-review of thcir. main points.is important to - your unclcrstanding 

r ' '- 

of our current position orirestr*int svJterns. 

Islidi.t 

. !q tegin.with, fntal aecidonts oecurring from 1g6? to 1g?Z wcre 

strrlrecl to deternirre whic]r frr,talities might haye been avoidctl by 

using various restraint svsterns. 

^ 4 

jqy of f"oyr,cngirieers, experieneecl in the design, develolrmenr, 

nncl tcstlrrg of both -rlqtiye antl l.rnssive systems! .rvn.s selcctecl.-Thc,se 

rollr techrllcnllv qnalrlrcrl.pelsons tnalyzed ?06 fatal accident cases, 

evaluutin$ thorn on thc basii of foul restrlaint systcms ; 

fSlicle.l 

r $ee pp, ?8-89. 

! Sce I)p. 101-167.

55 

Lapbelt, lap-shoulder belt, air cushion, and air cushion plus lapbelt. 

il'lrc ?06 cascs were dra'rvn f rorn the nine sources shown here. 

ISIide.] 

Our jurv a,ssumed that the belts and air sushions would perform 

at optimurn. I'hev also took into irccount the physicnl t:hrLlac;teristics 

of the persorl rurd arly uniquc characrteristics of the accident that might 

affcct restraint svstem effectiveness. 

We, r'ealize that this study itrvolves subjective judgmcnts and that 

others mav arrive at $orncrvhat rlillerent conclusions. Whilc the study 

carrnot hc cxtcndecl to renl life siturrtions with al.rsolutc certaintv we 

btrlit:vtl that it is a gcrrtilnl indimrtirin of rcstraint systern efrectiveness 

which rvc rvnnted to bring to your attention. 

IS1ide.] 

This is arr examplc of one case in the stuclv. 

A 7972 Chcvrolct frrrpnln rear'-ended a parked c&r a,t an estimated 

?0 mi/h. The 49-year-olh male driver sufidred e ruptured eortfl. from 

chest irnpact lvith t,hc steer:ing system even though it did compress 

3.5 inches during impact. 

ISlide.] 

Our iurv decided that if the driver had worn a lapbelt, he would 

have had an estimtrted 60 lrelccnt chancc of survival. 

A lap-shoulcler belt or-ail crrshions woulcl havc kept him ofi the 

stcet'iug rvhccl for an estirnated 90 perccut chance of survival. The accitlent 

rvns too scvorc to predict 100 percent chance of survival. This 

is the wav crach of ther ?06 fatal ncciclent c&ses rvas analvzed. 

This stirtlv t:onfirrnccl an old estimate. 

[Slicte.] - 

An cstimntetl 46 percent of the fatalities had no chanee for survival 

with the four restluirrt systems consiclerecl trecausc the accidcnts were 

too severe or too unusua,l. 

ISlide.] 

ITrlre are two tvpical exftmples where restrflints were but the 

occupants died. Thrr first verhicle skiddcd sideways into a Islide] 

the serlond went undemcath a tntck. 

\Yhrrn thc crrse stuclies rvere complcted, our jury made this overall 

juclgrnent; 

lSlide.'l 'lhe person who rvears his lapbelt has a potential for fatality 

redrrctiori'of L?'perccnt, and rvhen hc tdcls liis shoirlcler belt, his poteritial 

incrense to 31 perccnt. In n vehir:le 'w'ibh an air cnshion, his potcntial 

for futality reduction is 18 pelcerit. Rut if he should add a lapbelt 

and alwav-s wears it, his fatrlitv reclrrction potential increases to 

29 percent. iirese estimates ilr'e, of course, subiect to refinement as 

more, evideJrcre becomes avtrilable. 

Taking this strrtlv as u starting point, we then attempted to assess 

the value, of each rcstlairrt on n riational scllc assuming everv vehicle 

on the rorrrl 'lvrrs t:quippecl rritlr tlrtr ltat'ticula,r lestrrrillt nnclel study 

but, itr tddition, consiililling fnr:tot's ils u$ilp{e tnte, cspecinllv for belts. 

This is difficult"to clo bccnrise such rtsose ci'n onlv bcl estirnated' Also, 

we exten

56 

., [Slide.] Letls 

!9grn with the belt restraint group, keeping in mind 

that our datn rndrcatcs 46 perccnt of occupant faialities are in nonsurvivable 

accidcnts. 

First, 

-1974.Iap-shoulder belts with interloek: Assuming 50 pereent 

usage,4,600 lives estirnated to be srrved. 

seconcl, lLIr-sho'lcler belts pl's ma'datory belt-rrse regurrrtions: Assrrming 

the ?5 percent usage expericncerl in'Australia,rioo cstimated 

lives sived. 

Now let's trrrn to air cushion configurations. 

[siidc.l First, front ai. cushion lind raar laphelts assuming bert 

ttsage r*tes of 23 percent-the estimated nsagc-rate, beforc *oilttJng 

systcms werc instnjled: 6,050 estimatecl lives sir,ved. 

Second,, air enshion^ 

{1;o^nt, lapbelts front and rear assuming ZB percent 

belt-usage rate : 6.i150 cstinrntccl lives saved. 

, . Thirrl, air cushion f'ont plus lapbelts all around that have a scqrrentlat 

.'vilr'nlrrq s.TSJ.cm to rncreflse front seat Iapbelt usage to 65 percent; 

8,450 estrmatecl Jives saved.. 

rt is of interest to note that as o'r 1g?4 optional air cushions prognrm 

moves into production that General Moior customers will ha've a 

chorce among tlrree front seat rcstnrint svstems: The lan-slroulder belt 

system with star"ter-intcrlock. which wiil hc standard c'quipment; the 

o-pti_onnl air.nshion with lapbclts; or the optional air cirshion oniv if 

the lapbelts rrre deletect. 

To iummarizc briefly, 

l"t:". quote from a portion of the letter Mr. 

Cole, presirlent, of Genir:al lfotorb, recentlv s"irt to S;;tn".y B"in"gnr 

our sturlies have lndicatetl that all three choices (alr cushions, air cushions 

with lftIrl)elts, n.nd the eorrthinecl la]r/shoulder trelt wlth ir. stftrtrlr interloch) will 

yield Er sulrstantial rerluctio! in our highwa.y deflths nnd injuries. It al;pcnrs that 

the Primnry a.dvantage of the air cushion is that of r:onvenience, but'dxperienee 

mfly prove that equal or be-tter proteetion may he providerl wiilr other systems or 

tr comllinfltion of systems. 

'Ihus, a tlela.y in the mandetory r.jqrrirerlent for passive 

restraints would appear to be in the lnrblic intcrest, 

.-I,n cgnqt1r3ion, we qre pleascd to a,nnounce our plans to move ahead 

with the 1974 air cushion options. our field tesf program continues to 

give ns the experierree we v_ilallv neecl but, as we poinftcl out, the results 

rnrrst not he nrisinterpretcd rnd air cushion pcrf-ormance *reaitea *itt 

more tlran it actuallv accomnlishccl. 

_ 

Fin*lly, with savbr:nl rcsiraint alternatives becoming availablc to 

the public-e a-tlh with. s rrbst rr'tial inj.ry red.ctio' *opufiilitv*& posrponement 

of t:he requirenrent for mintlatory passive iestrai""ts wtuta 

eppear to be in thc prrblic interest hy proviciing them *ith u ctroice 

flmong several sYsterns. 

Thank vo' foilthe opportrrnity to bc with you torlay. rf there are flny 

Questions, lve would ba happv to answer thcm. 

[The slides follow:l

;d' 

#, ,,, 

n"'l: 

# %, 

'hil 

$chererville,lndiana 

May 18, 1973 

AIHCUSHIONCAR 

DELIVFRY VAN 

PICKUFTRUCK 

DI 

Washington, D- C. 

April 21, 1973 

AIBCUSHIONcAB - 5 mPh 

1972 DoDGE " '15 mph 

rF 

J4** 

s 

.gqr i 

i\F ,] 

'\ 

$

VallmyPark,llllissouri I 

Jrrnn 

8, lttl3 

AlRCl,rSl{lON CAR - sstlm8rbdm"S0ffiph 

i 

58

,'F+!!tBGrElFtW{1r-' 

- " -1tfffl{{,trrr1TtlEl 

iit .1 

fl-Tn 

----...ffi:4 

ff*-, 

ffi 

G 'llffir= 

{ 

'{ 

59 

;" -,,.il' 

t 

l$

60 

*':# 

ffi 

Elkins Fark, Fennsylvania 

Jum 17, rf,7$ 

AIR CUSHION CAR - esrimated40mph

hn-** 

lh*l, 

[sr- 

lr ,M@ '_--rfl 

:ffi 

-ffi 

fl'*' 

H[ F; ,M 

fl

Fite: " MillDm hEprs4e coryffirimt -*-_**, 3{Jg 

" Depofrrofi I ottrsnsporo s**-_*_{dt 

r Uhivorshtr ot C{lifffiio -__*:.*__ g0 

. Univadity df Mloldflm**_*r*_1._...8{ 

. lVli*oltaneou* fits--._._______.___ 31 

. Gtrhsil AM;(s trborEtory -- --.- gl 

* Heu{{oFilo ----."'- 

r-:--, "*__l , lA 

" Od{londCdmty --..,...___.... *_6 

. EMCompuycom . ",,---;,9 

to.afFffiilrlcs .__'|S 

62 

tryr Beh 

l.npand $houlderBelt 

A[rGurhion r'ri'r 

Air Cuehion with Lap Belt

lap 

l7i(n 

ffi 

ALq!4!q!q'$k!q*,s 

M 

l4 Belb R.r 

fsFslbFd.ndF* 

Lp astb s'd Sorundil 

Wtrnlng Fmntsd Rstr 

63 

861t $d lntsrlft* 

Bolt.lhtedtrk 

dld E6h UBo l.{rafi 

|Iedonal Re*talnt $Yetom 

Eff octiveneee E$timate$ 

il 

ffi 

ffi 

}M 

1$ 

*., ,*,i 

senator lrnnrs,n. As r have indicated previousy, Allstate did have 

n lif*r*ot-"""fyG* of vour ?06 acciderits. rvhich l think is in the 

record. ^"A;l;t: is that co'rrect ? Ii I ciidntt, I want that inserted into the record' 

i""t^,*tt ** we S*natois are objective in our approache-s, I 

h-"-:;;;*iil;;tly h"ia io the fact that rvfien vo.u get into the field of 

iechiroloEv that"vou ought to have sonebodv who-is competent irr the 

h.f,f-"1-ii"i"*"t"| ieviJw that material, and to thet extent f do not 

p"olr* that I am going to sit here and judge whether that presentafiod 

-- is obiectivelv c-brreit or not' 

f-iu*i-il** iri'r'e,iicrate one thing. I hope you rvill continue Your 

o".ri,it-*itii-ititig"tt.. of safety, rather than pirrsue a coneept and try 

i;;;;;- iil; ;;;";pa is right"inther than tiving to prove safetv is 

"ttt 

o* yo' a,re going to do that. At least you ere going to admit you 

are -îfi..-S;";";i,r*. 

going to do that' 

lt". Chair'ran, this is what have tried to present 

torln". ltrot tn"t" is mo"e than one way to gain thc same end, that is, 

savirig lives, and lre hopc rve heep all these aYcnues open' 

ile

64 

_^_I,^tj8^h.q 

ask,,however, at this point,. that we have opportunity to 

revlew Ailstatc's revlew of our material. 

-se'ator rrlr*nn. we will rreep-the record open and ret yo. make 

..:;";,., ". 

Illr?t"" 

c,ornrrr.nt 

.:"",,",." yo* Jr,(r ca,rc to rt'ako. fo" mny'i#r. ot-Aii*#;';;r;: 

L*rr Lt, rrr4nu. r uu rrtil,y rooti t{f, l\llslaI,t,s l)Tescntatiorr. 

r rrm not interestcd in confrorrtlti"ons. r am interr:stefi in 

pcople brling_vcry eont:e_r'ned, and if thr+v are r:onvint:ed[ of t]re. aptlroach. 

ask rhem to 

*_::ltu"tlly.cto''t 

Lruck oII sir'ply o^ the gro''cis of the 

frrcts of t:tyiqg to get along. 

And that is wifh rue or 

right? 

Mr. Srrtnnlren. Yes. 

Sonator lfenrrn. 'lVe with anvbody elsc or with each other. All 

have one more witnees. 

SIATEMENT 0r,S. t. IERRY, VrCE PRESIDENT, ENVTAONMENTAT 

AND SAFETY RELATIONS, TIIE CHRYSLER C0Rp.; ACC0MPANIEn 

BY ROBERT M. srNclArB, ExEcurrvE ENGTNEEB 0r'ADVANCEI) 

cAR ENGINEERING Or'xICE; AND MTCHAEI W. GETCE. CORI0. 

BATE IEGAI STAtrT' 

*,_Y.::-_P11:, 

M,q rlape is Sydney T.-Terry. I_ am y_r_cg presidenr,, en_ 

vironmental and safety rclntibnp f"or ch"ysilr'!".p. wiih'-- iiiiu.y u"* 

Mr. Robert M. Sinclair, "*ecuti,'e- erlgitr'**i,-,,f o"i;'-.i;;;;il ;ffi#+ 

l:t:;i'iili{sq,#4",\i1l'ifi:i:ll:'ift :tt#il:TJ'J#Hilli;"1d11 

We,appr:eciate 

vvu.arppr.'ecraiLe this r,nls opportrr'ity opporurrrtty to give grve the cornmii't* corn ; b;;?;es$ re_ 

port on our orcupfl,l,)t restla,int clovelopment rvor,k. 

chrysler _cn"i,. has bee' activelv'rv'it i'e orr improved occupant 

;tratnts of both an netive and a n:rssiwrr nrrfrirp .F^" rn-,r-., rroo-o oi.',,+ 

l::"t11lLtr.?j bpth:l t:!i". a.nd a prissive nu,ture for:.rfianv ye_ars, sittr_ 

rng ing wttl with the introduction of seatbeits for our vehiclcs in ttre spring 

of 1955. 

. 

, we havrr been worlring 

with the rnajor suppliers of air 

bv regrrlations rttempted 

timetablo for installalion 

while we 'ecognize this committee is primarily interested in discuss- 

Ing trrr baEls, $-e llclrove scattrelts must contirrrre to bc the base reference 

llornt for anv cliscussion of restr.aint systems lrer:ansc thev trre tlre most 

pro.t,enr most reliable, and most c+frcctivs restraint systcm irow available. 

Wq 

nT conli:r.ing to irrrprov. o'r seathelt svstems and o' o'r rg?4 

models thev will l.re both lltore convertient arrd rrroro cornfortable to use. 

Passive restrrrints, of. lvhic.h air bn,gs are the principn,r contcrrtrer:, 

are,a potenti,ally uttractive safety dr:vice bcearrse tlicy reiuirc no action 

DY r,ne vettlctc o(]r1rrpalrt, | lowever'. ilrcy are vcr'y r:oritplex, very rnutl]r 

more expcnsive.anrl ure not as efiective in restraiuing occupl,nts in 

manv accident situations. 

rn the miclsixtics we hegnn to research and develop progrem on 

air.bags arfter it was first demonstrrted tlrnt there was'sriflici?nt time 

to rnflate tt cushion bctween the first instant of vchicle irntrrrct - --' but 

before -thrr_oecuprrnt conttreted the interior of the-vehic1n. 

rrr rr'cldition to orr' orvrr clt've.lopment program, we. havrr been worlring 

th the rnajor s'ppliers_of air irag rv*t*-r as well &s som. two dozen 

contmctors to tht:sr-' total svstr:rrr sujlpliers. Much progress has been 

madrr in the clevclopnrent 'ot ail lrrrgs ,rr,.l many'of-the prntrt*nr= 

encourrter:ed in enllinr. developmental stages opp.u"'to have becn solvcd 

frorn t practicrrI stnndpoinll. 

On the legulatorv slde. thc NHTSA has 

to for:ce development of air bag systcms on a

OD 

in all ears. This regulatory roce$$ started over 4 ye&rs egor *nd has 

involvcrl over: 27 notir:es of lrrlemirliirrg to itttempt to sttpport aud 

srtsttrin MVSS 208. 

The latest rulinE affectins MVSS 908 was issued last Friday. On 

thrrt, date NllTSt''lrlomulgiitcd nerv itrterin legulations fn-r the test 

dum[ry to pcrmit rrianufaciirrcrs to certify vehicles equipped with air 

bags oir an optional basis for the model yerrrs 19?4 *ncl 1975. 

I'his lat*st r,Lrlerntking nllpeals to recoglizc the frrct that fprthcr 

research and devel'pmeirt bT air bag systems.and compliance test 

proceclures is r',or.,trssal]y lx:fort further i'ort,"sidetntion is givcir to makilg 

them manclator'1'. fVe nrtl nrost ettcottmgt:d b1' this. 

fn order tor ]lfv$ti POB to be valid. durnrrries nud relatcd test proceclqrcs 

should bc equnlly applicalrle to other lestrai_nt systcms. iuclucling 

stratbelts. This jsiot tto'r'; thc cil.5e evcll rvith the trew durrrmy 

specifica,tions issrrecl last rvet:li. 11 this iegtrrfl. 1vr) wel'c pleasccl that 

NffT'SA indicated in the pleface to this re;lulation that the etrtire 

durlny test sprcifi.catiorr ivill bt-' reoperttrcl befole tuy reqtrireurettt 

for rnanclatoty- Dassive restrtiuts is issucd. 

Wc hope tiiis-leaves t'he door opcn to consideration of other-types 

of dummlies, such ns the one bcing devaloped by the lJniversity of 

trfichigan Snfcty Reseu,r'ch Institute. 

I)rrrinp5 this period of reg3rlatory indec:ision, even though.thtre were 

no test tliitcrin or ptlnding rrrrrtttltrtorv letlrtirctrretrts for air bnES, ]v-e 

continued our air birg research trntl develolirrrertt programs, nloug rrith 

our developrnent of Jmprovcd Lrrlt s.vstcnis u-itlithc sttrter intErlock 

requirecl fol 1974 tnoctel pilssenger (:rrs. 

The interloclr syst,tur ii dcsigned to ovcrcome one of the major 

eriticisms of trolt systems I natnely, the reluctance of rnany car occulrants 

- to rtse thern. 

We arc confident that the interlock tosether rvith our more convenient 

rrnd comfortrlble bclts rvill bring about rr substtrrrtial increase in 

belt usilse irr 19?4 and. bevoncl. 

A fuither devalopmeilt 'n-orth noting is the experienee in Australia 

with mantlatory setrthclt lrsage larvs. Through that sinrltle teehnique, 

the Anstrtrlirn .statcs hrte ,t.,iiicned a high pei'ccnt of seutbclt use '*iith 

onlv ruinol obiections by the nrotorists. 

-Denttrs 

ancl serious iniuries in 

accidents hrlvei hcen repbrted to have clecrensccl 20- !5 perccnt due to 

thc mandatory bclt usi.ge lau's norv efrective in all seven Australis,n 

states, 

fn addition, France has now gone into mandatory use of seatbelts as 

of thc first of July. 

Senator lfanmn. Are you sure? 

Mr. Tnnnr. Yes. 

Senntor lfenrrn. I wish thev would stop testing nuelear bombs. 

Ilr. Tnnnr. \\'cll. thev are doing that, too, but they ha,ve, as of the 

first of July, gone irrto tlie mandato-iy rtsc of seatbelts. 

Senator "Il"enrntt. You kttot', whEre is the sense of outrage in this 

country ilnymore ? You peoplc dontt give a dnmn either I guess. I 

reallyal sriv this to you iilriic sittcereti-I cannot see rvhere inclustry 

in this "ouni"y has "ipt'eisecl any outiage about the fact thnt we are 

going to kill ali your kids. q,re going to hrive babies born u'ith trvo heads 

atrcl cancer anrl l-eukemia all over tli6 plat:e. 

l{o rvonder there is no excitemen't about killins 'lvhatever we kill.

66 

Mr. Tbnny. Senator, f am not sure 

ments. 

we all know of these develop_ 

Senator Henrrrn. you donrt krrow about 

Mr. 

the 

Tbnry. f 

bombs 

know 

being 

thcy 

shot? 

are t**ti"g'ih" 

our chilclren 

bo_rn's, but 

are, ail 

f 

ooing'io 

don,t believe 

rr* rro'ifntormecl 

mipinformed rrecir*sc 

or uniirformed. 

of it. r co.rcr be 

senrrtor lf,rnrrrn. ff you 

lrgqe any childrcn or grantlchilclren thnt 

l,1l_{"iT_{.to 

be pregnai,t 

*rnE. rhat 4iliii,;i;t il; ycar, 

vou are rooriing.forward 

f gna.arrrec you one 

t" u g*a ir,";"'i;;ililIor.mities. 

fi_Hi:TEmy. 

our'robrerf is to get thl t ttr, *"ii _;il; il;ill;people 

senator r{anrrrn' T can't make them 

safety' 

risten. Nfr.ody 

The.e is no 

is ristening 

feering aborrt 

g-f ;;i;il; ,irro*r,t_nnybntrv,'o'e irrihe crellllTg"t 

r am'ot saving ther'" nr,, tro* 

ua,Is peopr-îlri 

who tr,rc t'vins to do--somet],i"g utoiii safcty,. but, you lr'tw, when 

i;',iri'ii,.#i"airia_ 

ilXfi,-Slpolio qiidemic we pourEd ttiemoney i" ii;;; idii u *u"* 

o.We thriught i,t, wqs Foing into eaneer. rJut these 

Now thev 

are have 

all *t-l:.t 

cut ofi on that. 

LTl1g1i, 

*1ig1r1** yo,, 

and the fact ir,iirr. 

that thevli,*"or 

the countr.y rrot, 

cloes'not 

not pay 

think thcv 

any attentioi,^,T_*-1d," 

ale rojaied ancl does 

"ot oay-pay.s 

happens 

attention 

to be in his 

to them 

backyard. 

u'lcss it 

rae ba,rbecues his steaks arrd tests his air 

and that 

lla,gs, 

is it, 

ancl 

a,nd,+,* 

comes on 

if:l;;;,,;q 

home 

"f 

m'ocl of iie country, 

the antomob'e 

anrt that is 

safct.v, 

uro 

nn,t ti'oi is 

ress 

*htl. 

being 

a;irrr;il;#i; 

rrrade. r have 

p""g_ 

,ot'$een that iype 

materially reduced 

of 

antomobilc 'rogress which rras 

r""ia-rrt=. ' 

yye ,'eve a heari'g her:e,,yo* ]rave to 

e.ommittee 

m_ake sure you 

lry corniu g satisfv 

u p the 

wi tti ; ;til".";; 

the trest you 

;"hi;i, 

cnn. rtrd,i:Il,l.:1,*yi1r5ln,, 

;l;*i :y;,ilHt"i. "; 

that ther6 u"" not. f arn jusr 

isn't tliat unaenyrng sriyrng 

thrust to move. 

r am not picki's voo oi,t #p-"i;lrJ.'i'iiop* ynu 

Mr. Tnnnr. yes.iii. 

unrrerstnnd that. 

Sena_tor lfrRrrn. All right, go ahead. 

f"ffil;Jr**y. Some of tfie- de?ious-[ilnrtions srilt o'tstan*ing are as 

_-,1: 

Sy*lqtrs perfor:mancc in smaller cars 

ptgy1l_"Itime 

where noise and 

problems 

de- 

flre much more severe; 

z. sv$tcrrls ncr.formance over the widc. range of 

altjtudes, 

temperatrtres, 

an d bther moto "ing en,riitl-*rr., 

3. The effoct 

; 

of aginE n" .ifiafriiit"l^' 

4. Manufacturin'[ qiralitv u**rrronti ; 

b. Field mninteriiric" urid ."rii.* "iqui.**errts, v-hich 

new 

demand 

antl, sophist icatecl i'strurrrerrtatio'' n"a te-.i,"iq";; ;";ilg 

no precedence in the autornobire o' ary ottrn. riigiiinii-" 

sumer 

*on_ 

nroduet: 

, 6.. Tho .problom 

of safe disposal of millions 

qevtce$ 

of these explosive 

' when tlrey needto,be 

{$plar:ecl or rrhen the car is junked; 

7. The muctr discussecl standing.hii.l p."i;i;;;^;';;il J* -."o 

other occupant-out-of-position situations I 

against injury 

*l.Il1,.ing 

from byproducts of bag deploy_ 

ment; end 

9- P.oviding proteetion in angle and sicle crashrs, rollovers, and 

multiple crashes.

67 

'W'e 

are expediting the procurtment and test ch-eeking of dummies 

accotcling toilrtr ne# rulirig so that \\-e cttn proceetl r-ith the- enginee.ring 

deveiopnent 'work leiessa"r- to sr.rlve tficse profulerns. Mrrch will 

halre to bc done to ar:cotnnrtltlnte ttil trag systerls to our thlee ctomestic 

basic boclies ancl their variorr$ bodV ihdl insttutletrt panel designs. 

Our obiective is to he in rr position to offer frorrt seat air bags as an 

option 'f,ookinlt on our entire 1976 produc:t line. 

lt the total irlllic safety cflort atrcl occ:rtpant protection 

mea.Sures avrrilabJe, rve belie\-e that the best rrtrtitlnal^program importantlV 

indrriles u rontinuation of effolts to develop inflatable restraints 

on an ontional basis. 

llor.-'etr,r., it nr[st be remembered that none of the air bag systems 

nOw available provicLe aS good prOtection for cttr ot:cupantsi as Jtrstcned 

iirn nn,t should'er belts. Ajxt thii assunres that the air bags work idettllv 

as'thev arc intentltrcl to work. 

lTntil rve hrrvc been able to deterrnine the effectiveness and public 

acceptance of the variotrs occtrPaut restraint 'systtmssuch as,lap and 

shoulcle" bclts with warning clei-iccs, lap anrl shoulder belts with inter' 

to"t r, oi" bags ir.lqne, alrcl 

'air bag_s'in^cornbination rvith lapbelts, we 

fr"fi*u*. that Tt is plt:rnature to sElect one systetn to thc exilusion of 

others. 

At lhis stage of our development we.intend to offer.lnpbelts n-ith air 

hag svstems'6ecause of the ,rital adclitional. protcction lallhelts p_rovicle- 

iTurthel'rlot'c, and I think have sttrtistiial data to irrdicate that 

beltecl clrivers attd ivc are r:onvincetJ frotn Our owlr road test experiertce 

thab a faslunt:d laObelt is ir srtbstatrtitrl aid to a tlrivcr in an cmergcncy 

situation because bf tlte help it provides hinr in.controlling thc vehicle. 

Senator H,rtrnn. lVill yiru present that statistical tlata to the committerr, 

please ? 

trfr. Tnnnv. Yes. T will. A lnpbelted driver is better able to avoid a 

erash tharr is a noribelted driterl. This Ctrn be proven lry taking a clrive 

over the rvinding performance roacl at our pio.vilS-gi-ound'.Tho first 

thine the drivei'niust tlo is to be surc that he is belted in place so he 

can maintain his rrosition behind tho rvheel. It is absolutely essential 

if you are drivingthese courses to be beltcd behind the wheel in orcler 

to do the driving job. 

So drivers sltdrria have to wear Iapbelts to protect others-that is 

the public in ;4eneral, as well as themselves.- This is- tln argument that 

coulh very we,ll be a irving fagtor in cletermining whether or not mandatorv 

belt usagc can be 'iustified. 

Thi's is to rrroTeet otheli, not irtst the driver himself. 

fn our o;iinion the rlost important immedinte improvements in 

tra{fic safety ctrr be achievecl frbm an aggressivc pronrotion of seatbelt 

usage "and rve rrgree rvith I{HTSA that mandatory usage laws 

should be enacted trnd enforcecl by the States. 

J4rc rvould be plcased now to answer any questions the c_ommittee 

may have otr o,trlrresentirtion including " oui aii bag work ancl our continuing 

rvorlr to iintr.o't-e belt systenrs. 

Senirtor lfnn'rnn. fs it your intcntion to legally challenge the regulations 

? 

n[r. Tnnnx. No. sir. Our only concern from the beginning has been 

that this clummy'lNr ttsecl as thL only way to eheck r:currplaints for: all 

kinds of restraint systems, and it was specifically pointetl out in this

,68 

regulation that this dummy is not intended for that purpose, and will 

onlv bc rrsed for compliance. of operational air bag s.yiteil in 1924 

and 19?5. 

scrrator: r{anrnn. r did think your comment eoncerning the control 

of tlre automobile js rather a, signific:rrnt staternent. r thfirk it shoultl 

bc -Who pursueil. 

was it in the automobile int{ustry who was talkinE about the in_ 

creased safety due to the weight of an aritomobile ? 

Mr. Tnnny. I4/e have done lhat. 

Senator llrnrrn. Offi cially ? 

Mr'. Tnnnv. r helieve it l'rrs Rov Hrreusle'of our corporrrtion. He is 

our ehief safctv enqincer. 

senator H,rnrrr,rl To a1 inexperieneed mind, if there is a eonscious 

efrqr.t"bling made by the Goveniment to ask people to use ,*oil** "*"*, 

ancl rf that is going to contrjbute to more aieiclents antl mo.e cleaths. 

Y.ott you 

Ee3, 

fl.pproach,the whole thing fr_o-m the wrong rlirection. Thcy 

should be trying to solve the energy problem instead'irf trying to finft 

excllses, 

Mr. Tnnnv. That is one reoson we brought it up at this time.'we feel 

it is a factor that certainlv shoukl be hroright o.,t b"fore *e *akc decisions 

withorrt consicleri4fi all thc ttadeoffd, or recommondaiions without 

considgling all thê. implications of these recommendaiioni., 

senator r{aRrnn. rf r hatl a choice, r worrrd 'ather ricle in the heaviest 

car you havc got, rather thrrn the smallest compact, noT ulo"e tor 

eomfort but f hnve to admit that mv mcntrrl state is^better. 

f think thnt is hettcl flrRn an insur"ance policy. 

Mr. Tnnny. Yes. 

senator }r,rnrnn. r have no other questions for vou. r want to thank 

yorr for procecding in this, brrt lert *e sav to you ill again thai we are 

not going to be technjcians. f hope that vorr iill trv to devclon inside 

the whole automohile inclustry nnrl thosc"lrcople concernec,l with safety 

g greater eonccrn, ancl not trv to encouragi th'e lack of criticism simply 

In orrler to state that you arc doing rr. eood iob. 

i\fi:. Tnnnv. Mavbe'we thrive oncrilicism. Senator. 

flenator Hrn*n. T am not savinq vo. thrive on critieism but selfeomplaceney 

is t.ho most dnrrserous thiirg that eoultl happen to n nation. 

I I}Aye no rurtner (lll(:stlons. I appreerate volrr aDl)earance, 

[Tle_ follorving inf'orrnation iv-as srrbse"qucntl.i'^ received for the 

reeord:] 

Csnyelnn Conp. 

Detrolt, Mi,eh., Augwst 8, 1978, 

Hon, Vencn Henrxs. 

The U.8. fienuto, Eenate Ofr,ae Bulliling, 

Wa.sh.in17t.on, I1.0, 

Dn,rn SnN,rron lflr-nrr

sg 

October 19[2 whleh ehowB a hlgher frequeney of multlple impact accldents 

IlfrV"l enerilltererl ti' Oiivers n1t wen.ilg seat belts compared to the fre- 

,i;;;;i' of suctr acciilents (287o) encounteriltl LrJ' drivers r!.'ho wjar the ltalt 

ie,*t",iirtt. TJre clifference'ls ,strriiiti.,allt sigrrificant tlt the t% Ievel and clearly 

irirligrtes tIIflt werlrillg seat ttctts is benr-'ficitrl t6 the cJriver's flbilitv to m1rirttain 

control of the vehicle. 

.I.he two letters from R. c, Haeusler to Mr. IIoNtrLl Pyle, President of the 

Nrtional safety corr]lr:il (atta(:hnent 3), descril)r- tlre gteater pr'otectlveness 

AIIOrdccl tht-' OCCtrpants of lArger, hetviet ci{rs C(llilI)flretl tO smaller, lighter earg' 

As indicrrted in ttre tetter iiiLt3tl ^\Iay 4, 1973, tliti flntling .f a l{erv York State 

Motor Vehcle l)epartment stutly contirrtlted fot the U'S' Depflrtment of Transpoltation 

sh6ws i.1:rt the oecupant of n 2,000 ltotrnd car is three times as likely 

io he liilled or serionsly injured as the oeeupalrt of a 4,800 ltound ear rvhen the 

veiricle is iltvolved in n. "typictl" traflic crash. 

I hope this ilfrirl'ntiori pr6ves sltisfactory to the ilterests of the Cornmlttee 

ana that r*ou wiill ]rc abli to iuclutle this infotrnation in ttre tct:tlrcl of the 

hearing. 

Sineerely, 

S. L, TrnsY. 

EneloBure, 

lAttachment 1l 

E na iro nnt ent a, . u'i.!f;f',i f!!!#l;r. 

IDTtnR CorrPeNY CoRBESP0NDENoE, 

Jultt 81,19'tS' 

SubJect: Mandfltory Seat BeIt Legislation-tr'rance. 

S. L. TEITBY, 

Virc I'res ii!.etut, Enllironmentill an(tr Ed'f etv RelatlonE. 

You tnoy wish to rafer trt the attachetl report in your statement before the U'S' 

Senate Llommittee on (lortlrnt'rce tollrotrow. 

fiiii r,upy of a1 rrrtit:te f..,ni the June llJ issue of f,'Equipe spells otlt revisions 

in ihe F.e.nefr Corle de lrr Ro'te accortling to tlecisions renchetl lly the Ititerminisieriuf 

Oouneit on Jurle 13, enrlorstrd by I'r:tsident Porulitlotr iln(l tlllnounccd lry thtl 

Prinle Minister, M, Mtlssrrter' 

iiiiie.ri"g ts Artir:ls ! of tlie Ilrotrosncglnent, effective Jlly 1, 19?8, -lt.is ntan' 

Oatiir:V tfrat s(lilt belts iusttrlltxl in velricles shippt'tl after r\prll 1, utrrn 

-11)70-lte 

,it n.,i",.ggtnurerations", n*,'ning outsirle tttttropolititn areas. April 1, ]l)70, ir$ the 

Oaie-*tieir thtec-lxrint ll(rlt slrst{lns Lrecome ntantlttoLy equiltruent on frollt scflts 

of all cars registereil in Metropole I'rilnee' 

We d' not have fl "oliy of-irri' neri regulation itself. tmt Joe ]Ialtts conlirmetl 

thii rlorning in telephrine euilr'ersation wiflr Jrrck (.]ornell iil lraris that the 

Frtrttch police are vigorously anforcinE it. 

R, M. Srxcr,arn, 

E a ec utla e En (l'i,tuee r, Ail'uan c e C ar E n g in eering' 

lAttacbment 2l 

INTER COMPANY CORBESPOICDEICCE, 

Ailguyt 2, 1978. 

subjeet: Drivers'wearlng seat Belts Are Less Likely To Be rnvolved in Multiple 

hnpact Accideflts. 

S, L. Trnnl, 

i it:e Presiit cnt, Enuironmentatr antl, E afetll R'el'atilons' 

In ()rtober, 19?2 n stutly \lils In&dfi relative to the frequency of multiple !qr,p".t 

o.*i,r*"j*-injt." t[,e driver uses lap ]elt restraints. This analysis of 1'&55 

i"j,i"lj,i"r,i.r"nt cfl,ries i1 recent Iuotlel (1tl6? antl Ilter) cars.showe

70 

eult.ljr multinle impaets if all drlvers were wearlng seat belte. lrhe 

signiflcant_ 

dif,ereuee ts 

at lhe 1lo level. _I)etails are presented inAir-nle i "iia ,tpi,.IrAi" I 

. The-'rrrltiple impact accidents in_the sample were further sub^d'i"ided 

tylle 

hy 

of thelnitial 

the 

impflct, either to the front, side, or rear ortne vetiicre 

mine 

lo oeter_ 

if belt wearing tlplrears_to bc univer:sally bencncirl t., i.ft* Oi*"r"s atriltty 

to mflintain control of the veliicle. Tablc II shows that the tLeri *-e.ailitrg A"i""i 

was lnvolved_ lesg freque.nfly in rnulttple impact accirlents than an ""t *rt*h a.to** 

regartlless of initial dircction of irnpitr:t, w-ith one cxcel)tio1, trre casti wlere 

itiitial 

the 

irnpact is frotr thr rear. t'his'frequency rliffcrene'e'rriiirti.li.'""1**t.o *io"* 

the scat belt is not likely to have as great an influtnce ;ii'lt"i;",r,;it:*I,tu**rrr*rr.. 

Bccause of the srnaller strnple size in these suhscts, significant:e tuas ins,i,-arlrouglr 

the use of belts in a frorrt*l tvpe, initiar ir'1iact w*s in'.irr.i tu ii., *isniii;h;t to tn* 

57o Level, 

. R. ITAEUBLEE, 

Chief Enltin.eer, 

Auto rcufetlt and Seourit!|. 

TABLE I,-DRIVER SEAT BELT USAGE IN VARIOUS TYPES OF ACCIDENTS 

Typ6 ol eccident 

Side- - -- - --- ---,--. 

R6dr--------------- 

0thBr 

fotdl - -----------"- 

V6hicle 

ca$es 

7:'07-8- ==:2.ag 

v.000793 +.00021 1 

Answer.-Yes, significant at the l fo level. 

Drivers Drivers not percent of 

belled belted drivers beltso 

15{ 'ut 

2E 

123 

il 

ll 

431 

'33 

17 

lgi 3 4 tri 9 2 ltg 5 

E8 12 76 

0, 2ll 

. 226 

. 250 

. 393 

.170 

. 178 

,284 

.lJo 

l,070 . 210 

Appnwnrx A,-Flutnrt.r,nv or .q,N EvlLuA,TroN To DprnnMrNu Ir rrNnnglnerwnn 

Dntv'ns Ann Monn Lrxpr,v To Bn lNvor,vnn rrc ,a, Mur,Tipr,e--Ilrp.q,cr 

ACCIDENT 

Frequency of multiple_impa,ct accidente in the aeeident flle-469/1,BEE:0.846. 

l.requency of berted drivere in r'ultiple impact accidents-gl lzg1:o.zg4. 

rrrequency,ot unbelted driverB in rrrultiple impact accidcnts-Bgg/1,020:0.862. 

rts lne nrgner rreoueney ot lrnbelted drivers in multiple impact, accidents 

signiflcant? 

r:P-l=P*.lPJ:I-- 

P;P;(-l-PJ -r---m- 

]-ar. 

TABLE II.-FREQUENCY OF MULTIPTE.IMPACT ACCIDENT$ (MIA) FOR BELTED AND UNBELTED DRIVERS AT 

DIFFERENT INITIAL DIRECTION$ OF IMPACT 

lnitlal dlrection ol 

lm pact 

t*111.:: 

Number ot 

inj ury 

accident P6rc6nt of 

cas€s total 

.346(.654), -ze6-T-i,ozo .346(.68?) - 

Frrquency 

ol MIA 

Front 749 55 0. 260 

404 30 , 376 

-: -::: -::- -: - : -: 86 

o . 395 

other------------- ----- 

llo 

I . 760 

FreQuency Freouencv 

ol MIA foi for MtA roi 

unbelted belted 

drivers drivers 

0.214 

. 391 

.391 

. 817 

0.211 

,322 

. 409 

.52? 

Frequency 

ditferenc€ 

+0,063 

+.069 

-. olE 

-t , ?95 

Totel------------ l. 355 . s46 . 362 .284 . 078

7l 

[Attachment 3] 

CEBYBT,B CoiBP" 

Detroit, Mich', June P'1' I97S' 

Versus Srua.lt CarB-A Much Needed 

$ubiect: 'Public 0ceupant Safety In Large Cars 

Informatlon Program. 

Mr, HowAnD PrLu, 

Prelid,ent, Natdonal' Eaf etv Cownoll, 

Ch,l,cago, I1'1, 

DneR}Iow*ED:Theattachedmemotandumentltleil,.Cnroceupantlnjury 

Severity Versus Car wilti;*u* "" qttltllment to my previous-letter on this 

J*ti[ *rii'i"ii. Wu ** hav"e additional data that tends to conflrm the lnrrtortance 

ofmoreadequateandlessbiasedinfornrntiorrtothepulilrc'HlIdIy-.u.d.u;I.goeslry 

without some aclditlonur-unOoiietti*oi from tire I'ederlnl Governrrent of the desirability 

of h&ving tne pnUtic swltch to smflll cars in order to reduce fuel cotr' 

,ri-piio", rvlth n"rr ,rrerlio-*-i*in* uriAe of the Jact that the occupants of the subcomDact 

car {rnnear ro ",*lirr"*? ti*i* trr* risk of ftrtal iDiury per thousand such 

.u"e o" tfre roatl as tlo the occupants of the full-elze cars' 

Infor'ration ha$ Just;;-;ilil-;"attuUtu 

from the NatioD*l Safetv Councll 

Stilt*;i."i-ii*rra"t-int ttraf ittoicates that car oecuDant fat&lities rose l-rv 1,000 

in lgZZ as.courpared to 19?1. Thi$ ts in contrflst rviti ttre ttrop of-2,600 fatrlities 

in the 'revir)us two-ye&;'pe"ioit, Data impe^rfectlons 'tldo*Stedly account for 

,*-" ot'tfri* differencL, but^ttre swing from a 2,00{} frrt8litl retlrretion-(nrnong c{lr 

".""p."t"*i"i""rdio *"4'*" aaCiiio"*at S00 fatllit.c r.duction in 1971 t6.n 1'000 

iaiaiity i"creaie irr tszfls-irii: ioo grest to be rlismlssed on this liasis' rt ls 

iiishl.y"l,.ili"-i;ife iirat a .*n*tutitint-i.tcrease in subcotnpact c&t's in olr totril 

crr population woulcl correslrondingll' increase ctrr occup8nt fataltties' It lvould 

;;il;; i;;;"-Jrouto. ifiot trri* rr** ue!"n to show up-in actual fact anrl not jrrst in 

itrooy. Thare'rnay intleerl be other-factors at rv

72 

morning on the "Today" Show by Ctaude Brlnegar, the new Seeretary of Transportation, 

when he heavily endorsetl the fuel jrflving merlts of the smtrll ear hut 

mn.tle no rncntion whirts()ever of thc very Sreat loss in safety. f)oug Torns and 

,Tohn Vollrc hnrl rcpcatedly milde statements thrrt they $'ant(ld to retluce the 

ftnnu&l traflic toll by 50% hy 11)$0. If the Depattment of Trfln$portati(m persists 

in remnining silent on the threefold lnet:en.se ln risk of fn.ta] or near-fatal initrry 

Elmong occupfln{:s of t}re sulrcomlract etil',$, as cotnpttred to full.-size cars, thtly 

will insttrrrl have taherr a very lrrrge stcp ltr the wrrtrrg direction. 

Thc puhlie very delinittrly netrls guirlanee on the safety issue and neetls it from 

a nerrtral s(Ilrce. The steflilily in(lreasing ctisf ()f nerv vehicles resulting from 

inflirtioilirry force$, as well a$ from the atldcrl eost of safety flnd ()mission colltrol 

equiprncnt requirerl throrrgh govetnrner)t regulfltion, has fllrend.y htd its 

cffect in llrshing l)eople irlto tihe srnflll eflr m{rrket. Ii'uel shortnges untl rising ftrel 

prices can lle expected to rrccelernte this pace. Wtro is going tt tell the e()nsllmers 

the truth rvith rtrgard to safety and at least wa.r'n tlicm thn.t they may be 

treb)ing their risk of critical iujury? 

$ineetclY, 

Rov Elenuer,nn. 

Chief Engineer, 

Automnt iE E E alet11 a,nil, Eeaur4tg, 

P.-q. The automotlve manufacturer is apt to btr regardetl as having a vested 

interest in the selling of the lar:gcr rrrrtl more prolittrble car. Nevcrthcless, T have 

rclrcatetlly firatle t:lear-cut anrl forceful strrtcrnents in ltceping tvith the content 

of this letterlvltcncvcr givett tlte oltyiorttrnit.y thtough thc questions of nqlvs- 

Inen. Aft y()il mfly ktrow, I ilIso al]tr)r,'itrcd on the Wtrlter Ororrhite (CR$) evening 

news tr)r()gr'flnl in support of orrc of our.dealers in'l'exns rvho refused to sell 

sttbcornpacfs orr the groruds that they werc not suffieientl)' sflfe. I also rrratle 

Jrtrblic staternents before an assernhly of 2(Xl ratlio, lIV, rrlld ne.!'!'spallermen 

atterttliug ottr annual new tiirr ptess ltreview lirst sulnlner: ut Marco Islnncl, 

Floritlrr. In very plain lunguage f gave tlteur the eontent of the ent:loscrl mernorarxltrm 

fea.turing the thrct: to orle ratio of frrtalities. 

Blr,r, Sretr TJnrvrnnrrr, 

ll[ttnete, IniI., Angttst 6, 191$, 

Mr. Gnno Wlr,r,r,rue, 

I'e17isl,ati.iltt Cou,ntel, to Emator Vanca Eartft,e, 

U.S. Eena,te, Wash,inlrton, f),C. 

IJperl Mn. Wrr,LrAMs : A recent issue of ,,selttrted U.$. Government publicattlons" 

listed the followine: 

L722-0025$ "Adminisfrntors of Nursing and Personfll care Homes: Erlucation 

and'f.rfl ining, Ilnited States_.frne_AuEugt 106S" 

5270-01718 "Trends in Long TcrD Care: part 1?, Washington, D.C, (postive 

Aspcets), Octoher 14, 1ST1,' 

5170-01522 "Trent1s in Long Tenn care l part 19, wrrshington, D.c,, oetober rg, 

1971" 

6270-01[t81 "Trend's irr r,ong Term care: pnrt lga, Minneapolis-st. paul, Minn., 

Novernber 29. 1971" 

{rTrends 

in Long 

'l'crm 

Care: part 1glt, Appendlx, Minneapotis-St. 

tsanl, Ifinn., Noveryrbcr gg, 1971" 

"Trends 

in Lorrg 'I,errn Care: pnrt p0, 6270-0r,588 

52?0*01 720 

Washington, D.O. (Access 

of Mirrority Gr.oups to Nurslng 

-10, 

Horn

AIR BAG DEVTI.OPMENT AND fiCIINOTOGY - "^ -..

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