virsight hearing - Motor Vehicle Hazard Archive Project

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which they have in lbct designed and provided to all consumers a
r,,a."liu"O t it lbr a shoulder harness system in the center position'
the ""in"t'ii rear seats, of their automobiles.
i,l.- provided in a number of other European vehicles'
W. think that trrgineering knowledg| ts therc so thar safety can
also be provided iherc lt's a r;;uestir:n of strtistics cl)d wtere you
besin- the desigrr ol safety and where the prrorltles ll(. 1ney ceriri.i"
fi" *llt'the outboird seating posltions bul ullimately' a's
V;i;; has Jon", th"." ought to be sh"ouider harnesst's !ur all people
seated -"tli.. in the vehicle.
Xi,t"r*o. You're saying the technology is already developed?
Mr. CoRf,N- Oh, Yes, sir.
Mr. Kr-nczxn. We're not remaking the wheel here'
Mr, CoseN. Yes, sir.
iii;. ;i;";il.-iliing the testimonv this mortting',vou indicated
ttrai ine auro manufacfurers on a voluntary basis will bc putting rn
i'n"-*.r t"" and shoulder belts. Is this in fact accurate and how
-"r"" -u"tifJ"rers are going to move ahead with that progrqm?
"'i4i.
K;;;;;. -flgt well, the inanifacturers have so st'ated to the Natlo"ui
*ty Traffic Safety Administration' Again' the control--
Mr. Kmczxl. Effective when?
ii.i;. i;;;"" Well, effective thev sav, and d.on t hold me to this'
*-"ti-i ty'i9gZ,-i fuli"u", thev sav ihev will be in all. cars l'm
sure that the industry representative will be able to grve you a
il"* i.?"i"li ni,;i". ri'e piobt"- is that he who giveth mav taketh
il;; ih;; ";? the same car companies who.began,to provide air-
;;; ";;-;i;;; ptot "iiot in the midseventies and said if vou'll
iff;;" "|";;-f?o-m a regulatory standpoint, we'll do this voluntarilYTh"u
s"u"th for awhile and then they tooketh away for every
t";; fi"il;i't;; u"tit uuout 2 years ago or 1 vear ago and we still
iil.^i h;;; "l;b"c" in ttto.t """t". lt is-the lob of regulation and it is
;h"';;;;.* of th"e act Lo see that what tire companies can do and
;il il;ii"";;;'i;'-u"i"-"i -alned in the resplitorv process and
that ""iirl hasn't haPPened here.
xi"tr*ii cive me an update on the airbag situation' Is that
rirUrl-i"iis" only to protect and provide additional safety for the
;;tff ;ff; ih"! "o.i,"tto* positibned in the dashboard for other
occuDants
""i;i.-i;;. in the front seat?
th; eiisiing product on the market todav' with tbe
".i,iiliiii- "i p"it aps one" automobile manufacturer' is providing
oniv'protection for the drirer sith a-n airbag' One manulacturer'
;ili ir'il;h;, ii pro"iding its vehicles at an option with the passenger
side modem as well', .
Thpre are manv automoorle manufacturers that have suggested
t" iii;. i"l;;"-;l;""t"s *iU be that same protection for the front
#";'il;;;;t i i"-ifa ttt committee thit starting.in 19?3' the
manufacturers that Put arroags in vehicles at that- time had sys-
;;;i;;6li f;";tal irotection, both passenger and driver' two sep
arate -'il|-i. operations.
fto"r*o. ln your estimation, is the.airbag critical since all
cars are now equrPpeo *ttrr itt" iai and shouldir front seatbelts?