AIR BAG DEVTI.OPMENT AND fiCIINOTOGY - "^ -..
AIR BAG DEVTI.OPMENT AND fiCIINOTOGY - "^ -..
AIR BAG DEVTI.OPMENT AND fiCIINOTOGY - "^ -..
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<strong>AIR</strong> <strong>BAG</strong> <strong>DEVTI</strong>.<strong>OPMENT</strong> <strong>AND</strong> <strong>fiCIINOTOGY</strong> - "^ -..<br />
HEARING<br />
BEN'ORE :TIIIO<br />
COtrIMITTEE ON COMMERCE<br />
UI{ITED STATES S]II{AI]II<br />
NINETY-THIHD CONGITE,qS<br />
FIRST SIXSSION<br />
ON<br />
<strong>AIR</strong> <strong>BAG</strong> DEVT)IJOF}IICNT <strong>AND</strong> TACIINOT'OGY<br />
AI]GUST 1, 1T}73<br />
Serial No. 93*43<br />
Printed for the use of the Comnrittee on Cornmerce<br />
U.S. GOVER,NMENf, FRINTING OFFICE<br />
38{80 WASHINGTON : 197$<br />
I
J0IIN O, PASTORE, Rhotle Island<br />
YAN(lll IIAlitI{E, Indinnn<br />
III{TLII} .{. lI-A,l{'lr, \lichigfln<br />
HL}W.,\RI) \ry. CANN(lN, Nevflda<br />
nUSSllIT, R. L(JN(;, L(lulFJiana,<br />
FnANK It. M0SS, trlflh<br />
llfii\US'I Ir. HOT,T,TN$S. South Carollnfl<br />
DAr\IniL I{. IN(]llYll, IIawEti<br />
JOIIN V. llt];'\rlf l'lY, Cfl.lil'ornla<br />
ADLAI E. l$lfllYlrlNflOr\ III, Illlnole<br />
"'qrFilfy<br />
C()MMITTEIX ON COI\IMI'IIOtrI<br />
WARREN G, MA(iNUSON, Wflshltrgton, Chairfidn<br />
NORn,IS COI'TON, Nerv lldmpshlrs<br />
JAMIIS B. PIIAIiS0N, I{unsrs<br />
ROB.lliRT F. CIiII,'I'IN, Mi(:hlgan<br />
II(]\TA]tD II. ll.Al{.[ijlt, JIr., I'cnncssee<br />
I{AIiL()W W. COOIi, .t(entu(:lry<br />
I'Ull S'r'-[i.]VilNS, Arir $ka<br />
J. (.,lLllNN Ili,):\LL, JH., Xfarylftud<br />
IrRHDDnrc$ J. Lonn,tr, gtd,ll Dlreator<br />
MrcrrAsl PbrrTscHlJK, ChieJ Couilscl<br />
Enwtnrr IJ. Coril)N, FrttJoauiontt( EtatJ l[cmbef<br />
AfrHUIt I'ANIioFF, Ir., M,irtor,it11 8Lo[J n'tt'$Etor<br />
IlALcor,M M, B. Sronnurt, trlinoritll HIUII Counsal
CONTENTS<br />
Operring stflternent by Senator llartke------<br />
LISI' O}' \YITNI]SSES<br />
Potter, lV, Keller, vice presiderrt, l'ubllc Affairs and Sflfety, Allstate fnsrrrlncc<br />
Ct).; nccoilrpsllied by Jnck ll'tees, vice presitlcnt flnd ehief ftctuary;<br />
Jircl< J\Iurten$, dir(xitor, autourotire elgillt'erirlg; Pltlllip Spivltli, lire<br />
chi0l', St:herervilkr, Iud,; IiaIDL \Y()rst'y, antl Johtr trlnlh0yt, oliicer', U.S.<br />
I'trk I'olit:e--<br />
Stcrest, Ilr.etl, exeCutiVe ViCe prer,i(leul, Ir0rtl Ilrttor Cl.), i nCCOrrtpr'tnietl by<br />
Fltlrlrur-t L. i\lisclt, vice Irrsid(,nt, etrTirotitntttltnl flll(l srll'oty ellHirleeling;John<br />
O, Ii)c:ltholtl, dirtrt()r', itutoutr.ttivt siiftty ttllitc;lttttl Don;tlrl G,<br />
trIc(luiga.rr. ir rtorncl------<br />
Stlrlimirrr, Itrue$1, r-i{je l)r'esi(lent jirl {-lertt'r'itl }[olors etrvirllrlrrrenti{I ttctivitirs<br />
str.rlll ; tlccorrll)iuriL+d lry Irottis C, f,utr
<strong>AIR</strong> <strong>BAG</strong> DEYIITOP]IIENT <strong>AND</strong> TECHNOIOGY<br />
WEDNESDAY. AUGTIST 1' 1S?3<br />
IJ.S. Snnlrn'<br />
: foMMrrrnn ow CtllrrunncE,<br />
Washirtgton, D.C.<br />
Tho committee met nt $ t30 a.m., in room 5110, Ncw $eilato O{fice<br />
lluildirrg, Ilotr. Vu.ttce, I-Iu'tke prc$iding.<br />
OIIENING STATEMENT BY SENATOR EARTKE<br />
Senator II,,rrtrrtt,l. Thc ltearirrEs will come to ol'dcr.<br />
illre.t, ht:rlitrgs have lxrcu scl;dlltrd for thc l)qlpose of-henring testimony<br />
on tlrt: slatus of lrir bag technoiop5y and tltrvcloprrrelt. For<br />
r(:rrsi)rrs tlrat I will elaborate in jilsl fl Inomelnt, lve ilrc at a crucill stage<br />
in thc develolrmcnt of the ail bag svstem.<br />
\\re have tr,sscrnbletl here this rnoming mftny of tltosc who a-r'e primtrilv<br />
involvccl in detelrnililg Goverfrilent and industr.y.,policy on<br />
rril lrrigs. \\'e lrrrve illso itlyittil rvit;resses who are thc Lrerrt:ficiaries of<br />
air bag.technologV-the "tton-victirrts" of air-bag-ulrripped vohiclcs<br />
involvecl in trttuirl ilcci(lents.<br />
our l-il'st witiless is n[r. James lMilson, the Acting Aclministrntor of<br />
tho \-rrtionai l{ig}rrvnv 'llrallic SaIctv Arlrninistnrt,ion and two of his<br />
a,ssociatcs. Ir,:dciil llotor Vt:liir:le Sufety Staudard 208, us prolllulgil,ted,<br />
would rerluir:c ft plssiyc restrftilt systeln, Such lrs an lil iLag,to<br />
ijc installecl in ail rnotorl vr:hicles by rnodril veari 1976. It i,s sort of lilis<br />
tlre Ilcrkrrtl buclget. ft t:ornes rr year in trrivnnce. Alrd the iluto yeer<br />
10?6 lx+gins in L9?5, fls v()u all l
2<br />
hicles on the road and, frankly, T am eneourflFed with their performttrlce<br />
to drtu. rn over il4 millibir rnilr:s rccrrmiriat,ccl lly these-vr:hirles,<br />
tltere hnve been 29,1-r accidcnttr,l collisions bclorv rleplciyment ]cvels in<br />
which thc air bags rlicl not, inflrrte r)r'or)er'ly. rn rrll. iht'.re have bcon 12<br />
crilshes sevol'e eniltElt for the Lragsio rlopliry rvJrile thcrc hnve txlen no<br />
fnilnles to fi'e on clenrrlrrcl. Thelo'hns llec'rr orie inadvcrtent rk:pJo.yrnerrt.<br />
Atrlstate, tl vigorous ftdv{)urte of thc air, [rng. hlrs agleecl to providc<br />
_thc c'rrunittee with a summrrly of the *e*idsits in rviiich the dir hngs<br />
have clcployerl. We will also irenr: lilorn Chief Philirr Spivlk of tiie<br />
sehererville, r'cl. polico depa'trnent, antl l\fr. ttalph \Torlsev nnd oificer<br />
John Mallroyt,lach of ivlrom has citha'irrvestigatecl or ircrsonall.y<br />
tlrivcn un air-birg-etluippeil rrroto* l-elricle which {vns invoivctl in air<br />
nccidcnt-<br />
_ Third, reprr,'sentalivas of T)etroit's Big Tlrlee-Chrvsler, Fotd. anrl<br />
(iencrtrl Motors-ha,ve agrccd to tcstify ttris nrorninq orr thr+ nir-bag<br />
progr&rn being prrrsued [r.v cach cornpilrrv. JVit]r res-pcct to Goner.rii<br />
Moiiu's, of lral'ticulrrr intelilst to the comrnittee is a Jurie 22 lctterr: from<br />
E. li. Colc-to Snrrletrrry l3r'inegar orrtlinins a ne$- GII policv on flir<br />
lrngs. lt, irclrrlgi116's rr r]elav of tlic 1976 stnrrilrrrcl jrr order'to accommoctratettatt<br />
ap1'r"opriate pliuseinttolt lril brrg svsferns. Gl\t has nlso rrnnonncerl<br />
a rltlliry in ils Dlosrlrn to lrrotluce 100.000 car.s blrilt:forthis<br />
pttr'pose. h*ccdless to $a-v, l'lris r:ornriritie'e is ea51cr {or thosc cirrs to be<br />
lrrrj]L so thnt we {jfln ftccltrnlrlllhr+ iits mrrr:}r c{a,trt ils possibtre (lrr fl,ir. bil,g<br />
efficucy.<br />
- l{'ith re$pect to Ford and Chrvsler, the committee is anxious to<br />
lenrl rvhab jrlans each may lrnvc iri t'heii'l)rosraln to rler-clotr rrnrt test<br />
air hn'q syst-crrrs. Ford hri an initirl flcct'of 'test vehir:les ori the load<br />
now. hrrlt_rreithcr: ]rrrs.rrrlntlrrnr:r'r{ 1111n" to oller air bngs on tny 1074<br />
enrs. Of inl:rrrest Hlso is rvhat eiTer:i. if anv. thc nevrlv tii'omrrls:rierJ air<br />
bag sl nnda,rcl lras ol the resca,r'clr rrncl dcvelol)lncnt irlins of Fortl and<br />
Chr vslcr. r-rntl anv cthcr intexlsterl irrrJ ivic-lurrl's.<br />
All right, l\{r. lVilson. You rniry proc:crrd.<br />
STATEI\{ENT OT' JAMES WIISON, ACTING .A,DMINISTRATOR, NA.<br />
TIOM.I IIIGHWAY TRAI'FIC SAIETY ADMINI$TRATIONI ACC0M-<br />
?aNrED tsy R0BERI f,. CARIER, ASSoCTATE ADMTNISTRAT0R,<br />
M0T0R VEHI0LE IROGRAMS; ANI) IAWIiEI{CE SCHNEIDEB,<br />
CHIEF COUNSEI<br />
ll'fr. JYrr,som.'lllrank vou verv mrrch.<br />
I have wiilr rre o,r rn.y riglit Itr'. ltobert Cartcr, As-qociate Aclministrirtor<br />
for Mor.or Ychicle Plograrns. n,nLl on inv lcft r;tlwrence<br />
Schncider, the (liricf Cl.unsel Ior t,ho Natio'a,l Flighway T'aific Safety<br />
Atlniirristrntion.<br />
Ilr..(lhairrrrirn., f irpprecinte this tlppor:tunity to nppear bcfore this<br />
cornrrrittcc to tliscrrss rilcleral trfotor \ichicle Sdfety Strrnrlarrl No. g0B,<br />
which spccilies rr:cluirtrrlents fol or.'cnllant rcstrrrijrt svsterls. llre Iast<br />
came hefore this conrrnittec on li'ebr.nrriv 21 of tlris vcli'. at which tirne<br />
lr-c tlirsr:ussed in somc rletail, rrsing sliiltrs ancl lilri, our occupant restllrint<br />
prugrflrn.<br />
rn tlie iirterval since Fehrunry 21, the passive restraint flcet test<br />
cilr'$ hrvc *ccurnulated Innny more mitlioni of road nrilcs. 'Ihe Itold
enrt. which entered serviee last summer, have traveled a total of ovcr<br />
iE' il'lir i,,i' ^;li;;:"tff<br />
itM ;;,';'r;ich "r'ere j ust. -r'ntuing service in<br />
Felrruarv. have accurnu]rrtecl A totrl o{ ovttr 12 trtrllron mlte$.<br />
'tir:i'JJ-^ir;;'il#^iili;,J<br />
i" n, total of t'ure tla' 22ir minor acciderrts-at<br />
imDact tot,',,-t.iu*is ilio* thc clesigltcl deployrnent levcl of the<br />
;il"#i,#. Th;-;ir "o.rtiiotrs have not'tlcployrid in thtse lon-level<br />
accidents. --tftcait<br />
hooe bcen involved in 12 higher force accidcnts' In etch<br />
rfli;;:ih"-oir "o=trluti*,i"pilyo.t corriictly.'I'lcro-hns been otre.irtadvertent<br />
{iring whi(:h clid rrOt rcsult in an r}ccident, \ve are contrrrurng<br />
t,i.ti"i"fr tlt*-1i*r:tor"toncc of thcse ctrs ancl to (lolxluct intertsive invlstiuations<br />
of thosc accitlents tSrrt we tleeur a''roltrirrl e-. . .<br />
To"day. wo rea,ch tI Ilew stngc in tlre rlt.r'eloprrlcllt-of titts pt'.og1Lm<br />
*iifi "riJ t*st-a.,*tov rcquirelments becomittg efectivc' I-*-orrld like<br />
i.i t,""-i-".'i.;;' t;illrf ietly, the drvelo''re^ts'oI tle last few rttotrths<br />
that -_Oriii*"*tiilrcr, havc letl us to tvlterc 11'e ilre toclny.<br />
t'-r, 1tt?2, thc tJ.S. Cdurt of Appeals forthc Sixth Cir-<br />
"nit-r,it",.t on pctiiions titca Uy sevcrnl mattufrrct.rrcrs challengirrg the<br />
valiclitv of sta'nclnttl 208.<br />
iii* ".sta1cla1cl<br />
hn4 providetl for three restrailt options dlring the<br />
periocl ''-illl {rorn August ill of t}ris year to Arrgust Ll'r, 11)75:<br />
A;;;i;lT,,,trrt'.:r cortltl lilovide f'li''r'otccti'tr in a va.iety of<br />
crashes - bv fullv lutrtrrtrrtic lneans;<br />
lJj.-l% *ritA rirrri-itle protection in frontnl crashes by automatic<br />
mehns --- and sulrlrlt'rrr(:nt tlte iystt:rn rvith rt llp snl'cty belt;<br />
b;f- ati; iit' c'uld providc safety br:lfs witli & sttu'ter interlock<br />
systcm. "<br />
^ft"r" Ausust 15. 1S?5, all care would hrrve hacl to confortn to the<br />
first olrtion iiy hauing fuily passive plotection at all scats. I'lte court<br />
i"r,rr"it".rlJld nsurcv?s decisi-orr to refr*i'e passive restrflints' but '.led<br />
itii,t' ttt* test tlrrirrrir.i thtt rvts to tie risetl t-
4<br />
, Thc hyliritl Tr rvas frrmili*r to us in nrrurry respetlLs. rt was cornposcd<br />
largclv ttf cotttllttrtents frorn standanl drimmics rrrlcle bv Aldcrson<br />
Rescareh Laboratories and the Sierra Engineerint Co.<br />
11ro began our evaluation of the hybriil rr in .ia.rr.uarv by obtairrins<br />
trvo dummies from General Motori and shippi'g the.m io Calspat<br />
Cor'p., for rr, se..ries of performance evalrra,trons.<br />
f miqht note at tllis point that iust prior to the eourtis clecision<br />
rpe had-lr_e.eun & new tlrrrnmy__development 'Ilhe<br />
T)rogra.rn. contractors,<br />
Gencral lfotors, and Sierra.'Iinginee-r'ing Co., #ere selectecl as having<br />
subnritted the best_propcsah; irr responselto oirr r.equest for proposnls-<br />
- The program.called for building dummies in ar.cordance'with performnnce<br />
criteria that we hnd cleveloperl. ,r\,lthoush theso contractg<br />
wele cxpcctetl to pr:orirrce urteful r:csrrlti, rve lrncw il would tn,lre. somo<br />
time, to complete-the contr:aets antl the necessnry follow-on testins<br />
ancl irnPlt:rnerrtation nctivities. Sincc it wa$ onr clesire to reinstata tl#<br />
pnsry_vc- op_tions tls prornptl.y ns possiblc, we decided to eoncentrate on<br />
the Tlvbrid II-<br />
. We'began effortq in Janrrary t97i] to aequire eomplete ttesign drawitrg.s<br />
on_the_Ilvbrid II frorn the dummi rnrnufrrctur'""s.<br />
tl'his<br />
was<br />
undertal
5<br />
GMts and our test proeetlures. fn the abdomen
6<br />
' , Mr. JVrr-soN. 56,600.<br />
$crral:rrr ll.rnrrr. 116,600? Right?-<br />
. Mr'.'[\rrr,som. ]les. AncI ltrrrk in 1966 it was on thc orcler-f carrtt bd<br />
sure, trut it r.;iir,s somewhnt kss. Qrrite sornc lcss. ft rrlachctl a perli-<br />
$jcrrrrttrr'(ltron. I)icl vorr say 1956 or 1966 ?<br />
Srrna,tor lT.rnrnn. 1ll 66"<br />
Mr. \\-rr,solr. I:cs.<br />
, Senator IfAR'l.r{E. That is whcn tho arrtomohile safetv la,w uras nasscd.<br />
Mr. JVrr,sor+. It was somtlw]rcro in the ncishborhoocl of tlre lower<br />
fift v thousancls.<br />
. ' 1Slnatol J[.,rnrnn. Ancl tho r]eat]r rates continuccl to go u1l? Right?<br />
Mr'. JVrr,sow. Tho doath rnte ha,s continued to be reiluce.t trud'the<br />
nrrrnber of llatalitir+s lrrls continued to go rr 1r.<br />
Senator I[,r,nr:rn. Ail right. 'Ihoro-lnn-be an explanation of t]rat on<br />
the basis of irrcretrsecl numbcr of autorrrobiles. incicasccl milc:s. and so<br />
fort,h.<br />
Mr. Wrr,son. That is corret:t.<br />
Sena,tor J:fnrrlnn. Rrrt. still, thc fact is thn,t we hftve made no srrhstantirrl<br />
proiTress in reducing tho highr,r'ay toll of, actual fatalities,<br />
serious injuries, or tho amorrrrt of rrroncy that has bcon lost.<br />
_ I)o vori have'a,n estimatc o.t how rnrrny personal injuries occurred<br />
last ycar ?<br />
Mr. Wrr,sow. Yes, a,p1rr:oximatelv 3.5 million people injured.<br />
Seniltor l-flnrrcn. Whut wfl,s the clir:cct prolirrlti t'larringo last ven,r?<br />
Ift'. IVrr-son. f can't give you a, figurc c"{actly, brrt ll'ha{; \\'c arc<br />
Ioohing at is a total vn,lue of loss to scxlicty. I'his is somcrvhcro in tho<br />
neighliorhood of ,$40 to $46 lrillion.<br />
Senator lf,rrlrrrr,:. $40 billion to $46 billion lost to socict,v ? Onc of the<br />
things that pcoplc lrcap telling R, Sena,tor is that vou havo to Jravs<br />
patit:rtce. Last night a pln,ne ern,shecl il Rostorr. Thnt was just, a,bsohrttll.y<br />
rrncnlled for. Tn nrlrlitiorr" there is the problarn of rtlilrorrcl safcty.<br />
There is nat nt this momerrt the tvpe of nnmrishecl orrtrlr'v from tho<br />
Arnericn,n r:itizenly to clo somethinrt'ninut tliese snfety problerns.<br />
f thirrlr. rrttforl,unr,rtrilv. thtt itrs not a auestion of ftrrrlt. f thinli that<br />
freqnently lvhnt r,r,e have forrnrl is that too mrrclr n{folh is }rein.,g macle<br />
to liIrtl eotrlrontation anrl tjre tyne of heacllines lvherc accusations arc<br />
milde.'[ nrn certilinly not tloingihat.<br />
f lr,'oulcl sav this: Thcro scerrrs to be rt this moment verv little<br />
?evererrcr) for'hrrman life in Anreliea,n societv. Antl thc faet bf it is<br />
thnt mnyhc wc havc bcconre so tcc,hnoloEic,iily mirrrlerl tJrai, we no<br />
longt:r lrnvel th::lt r:en,l cleelr corl(lcrlr about-moving on to rvh:,lt f consiclot<br />
must hc a tu:ash pror:dam to denl v-itlr tlris sitria,tion.<br />
f think tlra,f sorne oI iJrese pcople alc pretty cn,llous to the headlines<br />
of fntalitios llut, I think that st,atistie$ $how that onc out o:f everv three<br />
of you here toclay arc going to lxr injurec.l permarrcntly-tl-,at is. if yorr<br />
livi the normal tprrn'of lifo. ,A.lso,"tlrey shor,v thrrt one out of evely<br />
six of vorr nre going to rlie in an accitlcrrt."<br />
Anrl f still don't scc the type of cletermination that f think is<br />
neccssarY.<br />
Let urtl aslr vorr n, question. Ifns Australin, hnd halrter resrrlts n'itlr<br />
seatbclts thirrr rvr,r lrave hRd in the lTnitccl Strrtrls? The storic:s lrave<br />
indicatccl that. fs thnt l, true statement ?
7<br />
.l\{r.<br />
wrr,sox. rt is a. tr.Lc stttement. This cemc trhout as a result of<br />
tfic a
8<br />
air bn6rs, which these hearineF f,,re rea.lly about-do you see f,,ny technological<br />
reason for clclryirig thc rnotoi' vehicle s*firty sttnd#d 908<br />
requiling full_ passivc pr"otcCtion for the front occupants bcginning<br />
with the model i'ear 197?i ?<br />
Mr. \4rrr,sorq."IVe havc taken this in steps, Mr. Chairman. The ffrst<br />
th_ing we wanted to do was to t*ke n. look at the dummy situation,<br />
rn'hirih we hiive done, and allorv or enatrle nranufactuererd who move<br />
ahcacl in the 19?4 and 19?5 years rvith one of the options, option 1 or<br />
option 9. We have nccornplished thrrt.<br />
trVe are now ta,king a looh at the rcmaining work thnt we have going<br />
on itr the chrtrrrttv a,i:ea to firrd ont if we can. in fnct. lrrter thiE fail<br />
deterrrnine if we cnn clevelop a dummy that wirrllrl fit the full passivo<br />
mandatory rcquil'enlent for thc 1976 moclel ycar.<br />
Se,nator H-e.nr:nn. I)o vou havo a conment ?<br />
Ifr'. Scnrqnronn. Yes, iir. f worrld just liko to ndd to what Mr.'Wilson<br />
said to attempt to place it in contextl<br />
You will recrril fhllt; rve hiitl issued o final stnnclarcl conccrning passiye<br />
restraints that .lvas challcngcd bv a,ll the auto rnanufacturers sellirtg<br />
ca,r's in this countr"v sl,r'e frrr GI't anrl Morrledes.<br />
'l'he crrtrt of<br />
afi;erls in (linc,innati la]st l)t-'t'ctnltcr lrrk:cl orrl; orrr' $tnnrllrr"cl rrnd sa,icl,<br />
in clTcct, the stnnrhrd was rll riglrt exccpt tlrrrt {'yorrr test device is no<br />
goocl.tt<br />
Since then, as Mr. JVilson stated irr his testimonv, we havc spent a,<br />
grtrrt clcal of affort in a.Ntenrptirrg to fix tJre inaclrrcluacirs of the test<br />
dcvice.<br />
Wc think we have fixecl it insofnr n,s coming up with somothing that,<br />
i,s satisflc:Lory, tlre Itvbrid fI, for the pur:pose-'of pelrrritting mtnufrrctrrrers<br />
to go rlherrrl rvith pnssive restraints clurirrg the sb-called<br />
optiorr period.<br />
'[Ve<br />
]rave this arlditional extensivo clummy rcsearch work being done,<br />
thrrt we feel necris to be cornpletecl beforc we can nrake anv judgment<br />
as to tho rnu,nrln,tory prssive rcstrnirrt issue. Au.d thlt clurnmy lescarch<br />
wo1ft wonr{; be Iirriqhefl-<br />
Senatol llLn.rrrtl. lfi hegan when ?<br />
Ilr'. Sr,rrrnnrnr,:rr. ft hcga,l in f)r,rr:rrrrllc:r or lVovernber of last vear as<br />
f recrrll. It is sclrcclulerl to tre completecl atrout ()ctober of this vear, sir.<br />
Scrtator ff,rnrrn. Let me asii you Jrow rnuch rnoney is' in'this<br />
division.<br />
I[r. Scrrtvnrnlln. \Vell, we clontt htve nn n,uthorization for motor<br />
velti-t:le_pro,qrrrm,s this vear joo, slr;.<br />
'[Ye nre<br />
:]pcr&fing<br />
on a rlontinrring<br />
resoltrtiorr.<br />
'Ihe<br />
Sennto hir,s lreen hind cnouglr to give us nn a.ut]rorrzation.<br />
Senator l-Trrnrxu. Of how mueh?<br />
l\[r. Sorrxr:rrrnn. 946.8 rni]licn f helieve.<br />
Serrator' I:T,'rru:nn. $46.8 m il liorr ?<br />
I'[r. Scrrmnurnn. T]ro lTorrse hrrs not given us an authorization.<br />
Senator Hnrvrrtl:. All liEht. Then ho* manr- empjovees i:lrc involved<br />
in this tlnrnrnv projr:r:t ? Ts this on a contrar:t ?<br />
Mr. C.cn:mn. tr{r. C}ra,irnran, wc have two contraets. one with General<br />
l\{otors anrl one with sierra lt)ngineer:ing co. trvit}rin the aclrninistration,<br />
we p.'ba,hly havc trhe eclrivalen[ of per]rnps five to eight<br />
people working---well, no, aborrt five-__*
I<br />
Senator llennrn. Five to eight, people rvorking on this?<br />
Mr. ilatrrnn. Yes, sir'.<br />
Sonator l-lem'rui. Do you need more? Coultl you do a tretter job if<br />
you - had rnor'e elnlllovecs i<br />
r\[r. C.r.trrnn. It is rrrore n tnatter of tcchnolory.<br />
Sertrr{or llanrnr:. lVcll. coultl I'ou clnprloy i,}ie teclrrrology? Cantt you<br />
hire good pcople? I)o 1-ou tttr-'rtn to sa.v tfiis tert:lrriologit'nlly sulrerior<br />
count-i'r'ctoirsnt htve t,hrr rrbilitv atty n.xrt'e to evert titke care of itself ?<br />
Mr. C-ttrtnu. I am sute we ao. ltr. Chnirman.<br />
Seuirtor ll..rrllrtri. ALtl von shor't of Inlrrrlx)wcr in this section, trfr'<br />
Wiisorr? Do vr,rr u-ant. to iii,rlie. lr. colnlnerrt ou tlirrt lxrfore. yolr deptrrt?<br />
I a,tn lot tr'"tiirrg to fir't r-titt ittlo a ltole. IJrrt rYhlr.t I atn rctrllv tryirrg<br />
to fintl orrt is lrlircrcjtt'e'.t.r gtring to tltis tlrr'ttst t't) tttot-tl fot ii:irt'd antl<br />
what is l;he P*rblcm? ls it rrranpo*-er'? Is it tnotrtrv? Is.it, wiII .Porver<br />
or is it jrrst<br />
1i1111 IacJrtrd;tisir:rri rli'pltltliatiott of tlrc Arrtelicitlt spii'it?<br />
I[r. lVrr,sirrv. Nol we ar,". ]ru,'suirtg this rrs rapidlv.as lve cflIl-I think<br />
eveirv[orlv.lvolld ]rave to nEl'tre that'thc Stt'et,y-Adririnistration is oper''<br />
atini' in rr lat.lrcr. lean wtvl l{orvever'. it isntt -just a matter o{ the tec:ltnicui'people<br />
that rvri ancl'the lclrnirristrntiou lta,t-ti wo_rhing on this. ft<br />
is n mat,tcr of having ctolrtt'ftct frtuds so t]tlt we cln hire experts outsiclo<br />
tlre n,tlrninist t'u{i6n to tlso hel lt tts rvcrJi in this area'<br />
Se.rriltor llanrrit,:. I unclelstlrnti that' .ln othcr lvclltls, do you neecl<br />
mole cotrtrrrct funds? Is thtt u'hat.vou rrced? We can give it to go<br />
trhcld and cqrrtrattt a ploposcil .|i liilliol to subsicliztr expolts in the<br />
IJrriterl Stril.cs. J'r'l lrrtlitl gir-,: $i lrriilion rt'tttl sttie 50.00() lives.<br />
ff vorr ncctl S5 ttrilliott. I litrorv you $'onrt set it- I n'ill ttill you I will<br />
lxr fo"r it i:f thrrt is rvhat vou trtcd.-In othct ivords, I rvoulcl lihc to find<br />
sollre wilv to rnovo otrt of tlris trap we artt itt.<br />
l\,Ir. \Vrr,rcrrx. Ocltnirrlv rvc r,ouicl u-c(:) nlol'e frrncling.<br />
Scnirtol l-Lrnrxrr. All i'ight. I clon't thitrli tltcrc is-tny use in me pursuing<br />
it ruly nlole. f iust ivalit vou to ltttrtrv ltty feelings. I wjsh voutd<br />
come-antl sort of lrlty honest u:ith the *\nrt:r'icnn-pcoplc. And to sl'rrrt<br />
worrving ahorrt tirc ilollar rrrnv he one lhing. 'I'he otrly pelst)tr rvho<br />
worr:ir,s iihout t|c clollrrr for i7;000 Ameliclttt,s is tlre urtdcrtalcer.<br />
On Jurre 2? Secretnly l.lrirtegar dicl t'ecoive a letter from l{r' CoIe<br />
of (icn errrl llot ols recourtn r,rtrtl iiig irrclefi r r ite postpollenicnt of stttn dard<br />
?08. Whnt is vour trosition on tlurt retrorrrmerlclrutiott?<br />
Mr. Scrrmriiutn. ^O,r" Trosition is prettv mtreh as I have nttempted to<br />
outlinc irr answer to a l.rrevious clriestiorr. Mr:. Clhnirmtlt. trtrd thlt is<br />
that rvc hnve not yet rnaile n dccisiirn as to rrurrtlatol'y paste. You will<br />
recall we hacl a nirrnchtoly prrssir-e tltrte Augnst 1i"r, 19?1.r. The court set<br />
thrr,t nside srr,;*ing,<br />
"]'ou cirn-'t lrtrve the clrrtrj rrntil yo,tt fix the clummyrtt<br />
'W'e,<br />
cantt Sct a irew drrte until rve know rvltaL flte clrrrttrrty research is<br />
"<br />
goins ttl telJ rrs.<br />
Tlllir work lvon't hc completecl until October. At that time we will<br />
cross that bridso.<br />
lienator Hanrxn. Yorr will try to make tlecision ?<br />
I'his clutrrrrrv has a Z-vear lifrl ? Is thrr,t colrect?<br />
IIr. Scrrwr:inEn. Tlut's corlect, sir.<br />
Serutor f{.rrlrtru. Afttr tlrat, rvhirt ? 5*othing?<br />
llr. St;rrnntrrr:t. I'he point I arrt tr'f iug to rrirr'ke is that we a,re satisffcd<br />
that this durrrmy is good cnough for purltoscs of fl mflnufacturer
10<br />
docicling as an option whcther or not he wants to go ahead w_ith an ait<br />
cnshiorisystcm.'1\/e iile very hopefll C],\t rvili [o fol*-alcl rvith its<br />
plans.<br />
'<br />
W* rrre also vcrv hotleful othtr ma,nufacrt'urers will.<br />
\Yhrrt rve cloutt"l;rrow ret, and rve rt[tlrrt stry lutil the reisearch js all<br />
eournlete is rvhrrt the uitirritte rftrmtny s'ili be. .[[rrrte the trltinrrrtc<br />
clum'inv or the tlurrtmv for the futut'c-bet'oncl Arr{rrist 15 will be tho<br />
Hvbr.iil If. 1\-e just rrr:c:n't in a position ttitluv to mrrke that 'irrtlgrnent.<br />
llorrefullv *e',oill lrt: irr a positjdn when {.his rlescarch-<br />
Senntoi' Ifnn'r'nn. ( )ctober: 1 or October 31 ?<br />
n{r. Scr-rxlrrtrrrln. I dontt kttorv, l{r'. Chilirrnnn.<br />
Serrll tor l-T.tntnn. I)o you think it is L)ctobcr or &re we dealing with<br />
Novt:rnlrtlr ?<br />
.i\'lr'. ScrnrnroER. l$or T think-well, tho contract reports will come in<br />
in Octobt:r', a,nd l,hev rvill hrrve trl be evaluirtert. a,nd thut is not goitrg to<br />
be tlone in'lr tlty oi'2. I think that lry lolovernber \vc olrglrt to lre in tr,<br />
posil,ion * to lrnow r'vltirt we ale going'to clo'lvith r:csllect,-io this issrre.<br />
Senn,tot' Hnnnq,;. I ]retlr you l-ncl unclelsl,and you, aird I atn not heing<br />
clit,icll. I nm trying io push you brck to rr tlrll,e rvlrtrre .you cln go bnck<br />
and sny, ttlookl th-c Criug"cis insists u-c harve rr rcply," rrrrd kecp on<br />
pushing, ancl I 'iust ' " '<br />
wrrnt a-little l)re$:nre- bacli of it.<br />
l{r'. Scrrwnnrun.<br />
'[,Vc have pltrtL.y of 1rr'+l$sur:e fr:om your comrnittee,<br />
sir. (lhrrirnran l\lLrugnuson - has^writir,n ui ort a rrurnber of occa,sions concernirrg<br />
l,his issrre.<br />
Sr:nri,tor: Ifnnrnn. AlI riglrt.<br />
Now, then, 1974 vchiclEs are going to be cquipped with sequential<br />
ignitirxr irrterloek systcrn, wlriclimcrins that thc ri:rotorist ivill rrot bc<br />
ahlc to strrrL thei r vetrriclc without first bucklirlg rrl). I{ow, hor,v elTective<br />
clo'l ou ihink thnt is going to be?<br />
Ifr'. Scrrxnrunn. lVe ar:e ve.r'y hopcfrrl as to the efiectiyeness of t}ris,<br />
trf_r. Chrrilrrrln. Our projr:ctions and analvsis show. if r.ou could achievg<br />
a.lqu.ncfcc-l lrerr:ent irse-thrrt is_, if the dystern r:orrld rrot be rlelintr,,d,<br />
wlrich r think is not goingl {:o be the en,se-ancl rvcre this svsr.urrr inj<br />
stulleld in nll cnls. u'lriCh of cour.se it carurot be--1'orr coulcl savc 10,000<br />
or rrror'e lives a,nnriallv.<br />
Jlre rtre very, r'cry hopefrrl that this system is going to have graat<br />
lif esav i rxr notlrri tial.'<br />
Serratoi"ILrnrnn^ Lo_t Te s_ay one thing with regnrcl to that. T hope<br />
it can lle. $11ns;s" (look has biren, at least in the iessions o',rtsiclcr, lr'rrl<br />
I will leFort on hirn pnblicly now, wlrat he says lrr.jvrrtely. lJut ho has<br />
been vcry instrlm-ental in try-ing to take the caninrittee riown the line<br />
or sa\'rng th-[t l.t tllel'e_rs a sa.fetv stirntlarcl t]rat sornet]ring orrght to be<br />
rlorre to plohrbrt lreople fronr eliminatirrg thrrt srrfetv stnndard.<br />
I, warrf to_ congr.irtulate you for that leadership in"thrrt ficltl.<br />
scnato. coori. r:et mt+ sa.v this.-l\Ir. clrair:rrt*rtr. ()nc 'f the tlrings<br />
wo firce u-ith the ncw rnoclels is thtt if vou 11,s going to utilize tire<br />
:.":llir_l.tl,lt, *'foll unirtelv. too rniurv. pcopJe us-c ir.rrv'i,f hool.in;1 thc<br />
settbett lrehrnct tlrrrrn. then rrt Ienst rvifh thc interlor:!< st.stenl it is sorng<br />
to be darnrr inconvcrrierrlr for l,lrern, brt:rrrrsc if tlrey do iirclr it r,r, f,rT iiliil<br />
ontr.. lhev aro goirrg to lrave to rrttioclc it rrncl thcir prrt ii blctJtosri+r;treji<br />
ilgillnr ltecattse tlrey ca'trtt sttrt t.he crrginc tlre sccoricl tirug rlvel tirough<br />
rf rnav tie lOckecl,
11<br />
So in effeet it is going to be a great derrl more inconvenient to tltcm<br />
*ntIi I iurrr* th,rt rvr,lirrrl,,or-c itr iiris clirrrct ir)t], Lxl(lruse I lrtvc got n lot<br />
of rlrrestiirrrs to ask vr)rr irlrolrt tlris sitrrrrtiott rvhcrr tnv tuttr colllcs.<br />
\tr. Wrr-sox. I'lie Dcnartrrrcttt is sttpporting, I trnderstancl, nn<br />
a,rnritrritnerrt that, Chailrtt-atr Jfc,ss is llrrtriirg in jjis legislrtion in the<br />
iinr.r** tltat rr.oultl tntkt, this n Ft-'rlelrll oll'crise I believo {or tlcalers or<br />
rnt ---l;i r:lrrrtrics to rlhitttge oI' r(l]rl()\'o ]tctltllltl saft'ty t:tltriPrrrtltrt,<br />
tlrc ]tigli ",,r'-=. t'"tv l)rugt irnr stntrtlrtrd'pltiptxll-s. that' rvc,prrblishecl<br />
in tire l;i:tlelrtl lli'gister'last Attgrrst. lve lll(: ilslilllg tll(:.StlrleS<br />
throuElr tfueir lrg'i(rrlic rri0tor vtr]ricle irisp*t:tiqn pl'ogfrll)Is to irrrilrect<br />
fol srift:tv-reltir:ti items tlrnt:r,t'tl tttanclrtitl liv the lit:tlcrltl tttotor r-ehiclc<br />
safety strttrclards trttcl lnltltt: tlrt:m ellqctive so the cqqiplrrent can-<br />
"ot Uc chalieotl. Tlrus. vorurvorrltl llol l)ilss an itrsperltiorr if sbme-snfety<br />
tn"iiirri*,lt, iir,rc n'ris*irig or itropr.r'ttive. \Yc thirik tlis is rr gootl itlt:a.<br />
'Srilatqr<br />
I{.rnrrrr.:. Lei.'rrrc sar'-tlrlrt ottg)rt to cki. trt lenSt onl-litt fo t:ottsidcr.<br />
i.i"l I irntx, t,lrirt wu r:tur. i l'ill ,:llli1't rrtr ittrtcttdttrtrtttto tlrc Srrfety<br />
A"i tli rrr:o"irltithat -yon cirrrrrot clear:ti'r,tt,r: it $ttfrrttr tltrvictl once it is on<br />
*" iriii,iii"*,t ;,,*t;i. thi*t ir i1 the Olc11Air Act, I tlilp t5e1e is sorne<br />
type " of Irlovisiou o t tlurt lii Ird.<br />
\1". Sicrr.ot:rrrnt. Ycs.<br />
S"n,ntro, Il'.,trrrrrn. iou *oulcl frrvor such a thing,'wouldn't you?<br />
l\{r. Wrr,sox. \\re clrrr $uppol't tllllt'<br />
Si:natot I{'rnrxu. All r'ight. Irine'<br />
Scnato.r'Coolr.<br />
Settatot' (loott. Thark vou. trfr. (lhrrirnrtn'<br />
Ur. fVitror'. tirst oI iiti', I lnve g.t t' ttrll vort f nsree wit6 the de-<br />
*i-i"" ,,i ir* bi"iti tiirii"it (lourt'of A''e.ris. -,\ntl'f<br />
ng.t'tc. r-crv lf-<br />
{innrr.tivelv rvith it. Ancl tlrc lteltsfrn I rlo is t}rlrt I_grt tlle feolllrg-,ft]rfl<br />
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<br />
tfroi, +"r 4Vo veat's thc Iie-ptrrtrnetrt hirs Ircerr rtor'liirlll on it ll('w $\'stenr<br />
Llr,f'fr_= tnij,*iruottl: ni f,il' rrs this Sorrttor is corrr:erirrt:tl .,tr1l 1l1p pllort<br />
iio* " 1,,,"1 rrrlde to trv i.i, conr-i1ce the Amelir,:n,n prrhlic t'o,1str sqltl1elt's'<br />
1f;;;i'i;;r* i'"*,i "*"1"1,tt,iiii** frlom-botli Cer\trral Nlotols atrtl I'.old<br />
th*i-tt..,-,.n,nIi,,,rtioi,'oJ inptti;tt atrd slrgttltler strrr-p.is lnort: t:ll'cr:tivtr<br />
iu l*",rm of thc rr,,mlr*rJ,,f I'ivcs that cortltl be strv,ld iu itutotntlbi le nc-<br />
"i.lirlrt* otlir,,. t6,,' *1"'f,*,e.. a1d tlrey s6orv tlnt u.ltlrlrglttorrrbintrd<br />
rriif, *" "i' irrrg 'rrrvid*s iuo.* 'r'otet:tio..thal an trir lag a,l11c.<br />
.N,,io, in resfi'ri t"'iiti*'i"?ii,lttiotiot',. ir-hi.:h I am sirtre .u:,1,-ijt-"1'-*h{<br />
*"n'**'*tifi;;iil-; 1,;;; oT-6glling ftir thc lctttrtiotr dt MVS5 CoSA<br />
i ^ irrtt auttlt tirrderstaud it. Antl I rr-ill be franlt rvith Jiou' . -<br />
i.;iii-it;ittk -t- rieiif il*-pi'"t,t*u1 *-itJt *ir.btgs of sicle eollisions'<br />
of roll.ve's,.'rt,, *oriii|,i,tl.tllt..[ a crr' goitrg-ck:tt:1 i:1e 1iglg'rr;'aftcr<br />
i'f f,-r -";isir*f irnpoct.'l'1e air Sag'is de{lttted trrcl t}rtr ca' is {r'etr<br />
i;'il;;i ;'fi^;iil ;;!yn:h*'" it w,urti to go, over in t5e next four<br />
lanes.<br />
:'"<br />
i"iu*t thi'li that rre, hflr'c never rnrrrle rl good show of trving to sell<br />
the, ilcsfrtlcti'r-e. Stntt: legislltnles antl trTirrg to.scll tlrt: Atttcttctul peol)Je<br />
tln "'if,:. lhe'rrl ilizrrtiorr r'rf sclrtlielts arrtl shortltlcl' lltll'neris.<br />
S""*uro,,n. S;i;iot;bu.,li, o:*t" J,r)rr t. agree to knoek out stando*.i<br />
ZnS'tije rvo,.ld otlo-t" t rio,:liing out"sc,rtbclb irrterloclis, rnd I dolr't<br />
think that-=-<br />
,]'^'hk-;,;i;; Coon. Tlren I think it ought to he nmended so we ean correct<br />
thrt sitrration.
t2<br />
^, l,r't let trte give you an exanrple. Let's say that I arn in irn autor''bile<br />
Tlrlrt hlls iln a.lr'tltlg mstal lation in the sttirlrirrg wfuccl. whicl sgnre of<br />
tJtem hflve- All r.ight. Lrlst ,Sundrry niglrt f "am coniing llaclc from<br />
Ann&polrsr trn(l 0rr .a two-lillre roird a lnt]rer larEc deerit:ilrn() a(r,Oss<br />
the load. r slirrnmetl on rrry brirJres, whilo r hatl tiic so*tbclt,s o'_ r liit<br />
him.<br />
Senrrtor llnar,r,. I{unting without a license.<br />
Scnrtor Coon. f.grres-s'tirlt's wlrat you would call it.<br />
rnirf, tnmtirl werghed_I gucss 180 or 140 pqrnds. f wa,s traveling<br />
ahout 40 mift:s an h.ru . I{ori, it; is my urxlcr strr'inli"f]r^urri ir,. si,r1istic:s<br />
thtt uty_nip bag worrlcl have inflrrl ccl."Is th,rt true g<br />
J\tr' cnHrnrt' No. sirl ib x'orrrrl'-trt, s*rrator<br />
probal-rle.<br />
coo]r. rt is highly im-<br />
The air li,g n''nalty wjlt ,ioi ;rriini* ;;iii;;;, il-;-Jrr<br />
ity charrge<br />
vetxr-<br />
i} thc,rrefurririLt,,iir,#-io",,rl rs miloi; a'lror', as<br />
n}urn.<br />
a<br />
rLrrtl<br />
mirri_<br />
r doubt tliut you c'en irl)pl'oaclr"a-inof,-i"i.;;'o;;<br />
decr. It<br />
hit the<br />
worJlcl t+rke s'rnet*hing *1,p'c'cirbit ;;;.-.';i;il-iiffi,i irlmr trra,r.<br />
se'rr,tor: cloon. r wtr't to ti'il yru ii *oJ ,i .iri, * ;;iii,=;,* i;iia<br />
statt{ irrl-tl:rmage<br />
snn,<br />
to t]re frorrt c'rl o-[ ,nv .,*i I. will tell<br />
nfr.<br />
io; tioi much.<br />
CaHncn. I rnisht suggcsr, sir', tirat tiLl ,:;q;.i;,;;'o*t*,iiiu,,<br />
onl5' 11;39<br />
,,,,t<br />
rniles arr h'rr. bdr'irt *il sf.c,,ck'rri, t"'rldi;ii."tn"i,ou..<br />
mcrrlrs thn,t you<br />
fl,ut<br />
l'ould havo_plotcri;iorr in'it,* "Liri,ri*, iili*r,io,:<br />
fi'om the'<br />
eittrer<br />
stee'i's cohrm'-pa,riri'1i,r,:*[,it.rrr.", nt arry sperd<br />
air lus<br />
below ""<br />
dcrlovrrit:ni<br />
the<br />
speetli'rd agiri, th,i d;iri;i;.;,it*i,fid:<br />
_ 'senitrr'-coirx. lT"cieriJos i liilrr-'to'i*ir yo, r rvoulcl',t<br />
belt.<br />
have had a<br />
Mr" scr+rrnrnnn. you eourrr have lrad a be,rt. Trrc'e wilr bo a,rrcrior:ages<br />
in tiro r:r,r'r: ir'cl vou clr,ll hrrve t]re,l;crt prt i' f'r,* vtrr.y nonrirrar<br />
Sona,tor (lotilr. cost.<br />
Tl<br />
t.,,,r Fr,;, ;r;;-;;,#l,i:'ii-':l+,li:fi; ,,.f"_:";.,'i:Jl,j;1 {Jjin-jl:.'1il"?;i<br />
bucJrlcs in thcle anrl no seatbelt.s. IUow, ltrnt, to n,e, just-si:e,rns<br />
lous. fleur,usc<br />
rirlicu_<br />
iet me sav to you if .you ai.o g,,ing to oiirer i,i;i<br />
and<br />
;;;<br />
the'sa,v.<br />
n,ir Lrag<br />
"If vorr .diilrrt seatrrelts, tlic nirctrors ir,ro the'e ;n t ,*, n.,Jr.R<br />
hc's not xloiri;q tg"s.! stntbelis tri.;il;.'il;l;;';;;d-il;;ii'jr#'itr" to;*<br />
that yorr lruve tokl hirrr hc c*n ttuu* aii th-c satct.y h* rrr:erl$<br />
bas.<br />
with tl-re air<br />
Mr. sclrrwrrrrr:n.<br />
'lrre..<br />
fecl lJ-ratrs r"ight. r rnight nlso arld,<br />
frorn<br />
senator<br />
n lcsnl stl,rdp'irrt<br />
cook,<br />
thtrre is "Jr"o",t,it'1,.y<br />
e{fer:t toclir v<br />
liourio'J'.Iqiiir:,r"**"t in<br />
Srlnrrtor"Coor. Nrlne whatsoevor ?<br />
I'[r:. srirrnnmrrn. None w]ra,ts'ever. That was ilre import of<br />
cottrtts decision.<br />
the<br />
liu'nto' cloon. r snt do'w'. rvith the form.r r)irect'r i' nry<br />
asked him to<br />
orlice<br />
c.'si
1B<br />
They thought it was il good idea. l'hey retrlly clid. And I neverhetrd<br />
from -- thcm.<br />
lf"t* i -un onlv strv to you, Mr' trVilson, thqt I think what t]re Deo*;d;;;t<br />
ffi#;;i,iJi"el*"rrrdroai,'g all o{ its tirnt:tlying.lo fi.ri1l I suuititrrte<br />
-- for.sornethi'g thlrt iL clrn sell norr'_ltncl tltirt, rt lllttili t soltl'<br />
M;: Scrr*u,,,,ro. f-f,,,rii to ili*og"en with you, I thirrk<br />
.sclrttrtr,(loolr'<br />
tlri; tilii.;r*t n fni. itrterrrcirt. lL glent airl o+ lrloncv hirs lrttl slxrrtt<br />
iii-rlr'.,uroti's the ,,s*-u] scirtl*rlts'i t'i.li if.loq talli. tti,t'e S;rl't:tY<br />
6;i;;ii';,;;ciirl".-."=T,J tnu pcoplti thlt iu'c irivolveil in thc: lrrto itr-<br />
.i;rt";;'y;i-":iii tfi.i litelnll.v st'.^l'es of ntillions of dclhrs htve btreu<br />
suent *'S""it*T,it:Cln-,*-<br />
in aclvt:rtisirrg lire use of riolrtl]etts'<br />
i-,,in ttirt tnlking tr,bout tJre scores o-[ rni]lions of dollars.<br />
Let rrrtl give You tlvo exillllllies'<br />
rVr. Scrrrri:rnrri. Ilav J-<br />
Sentttor Coon. Go airelrd.<br />
M;:'S;;;ir"*. niiil irlso goins towrrcl the seathelt interlock syst"*<br />
"""{" ".hi.fr ls ri*riti",rtly drsi,irrc,itl()(:iltlse wc cart't g.:t usflfle. r'tt(rs 1P.<br />
,"";rifrpiir'",iti-" trr-
14<br />
Senator Coor. Rccausc this is what we really need and ro*lly need<br />
in our lt*nd.<br />
Let nre *give yorr an oxample. We ltnve been sitting in h-ere weeks<br />
ancl weekg'lorv'u'orlcing otl lI no-ftlrrll; insuranco lrill. An
15<br />
is reouired as a direct payrrrent when you get your rcgistrationl conseoueirtlv.<br />
havins initialecl thtt iiind of n prograltl u'luclr costs t'ne<br />
gcrirerrrtticirt of tire Llottttlottu'crrltlt a substnltial Srrln of money oYer<br />
f;;J;-ililhe-n.*ittii,urs paid into it, it rvo.ltl s*ettt to tne i1 an efiort<br />
i" O.t-r,rr"*. log^ic inLo the eqrritv of tirrrt {utrcl tltrrt tlte.v could,l)rollose<br />
in.'-iiiri,ii." pni'"ri us they filt ivere lleces'iary to lcgulrtte the lirtaucral<br />
stttrri -" of thit furrcl.<br />
,C.ii .".,,,t4 liip" that that would be n basic argunront in thcir contentiorr<br />
"^t\t;;-;;,y i.[ in fu,rli it i.s Lestcd.<br />
j,r,,i tinu* dole the jo6 tlnt you s'Soulcl llrt I an g'i'q_to<br />
arglrr.rit"lr'vou. Ilave rny of yol set:trihe, Iilrn lrlothtcerl by the Na-<br />
;ifi:i;i S"ni il"it (louncilbn tlic cntire clialog thcy tlicl in -\ustraliu'?<br />
I'Ir. lVrr,sou. Ycs'<br />
S*,r-,,ntn,lCnnn. (iood.I thought it was a remnrkable film'<br />
Ilr. -S*ri,ii"iJ \Vrr,sor'r. Yes'<br />
C"ox. And I thorrgirt it pnssed. It went into efrect on<br />
.tr,tv'i. 'fiit"i gou* it-6 months lfif.rle t]iey stnrted to fino [nybocly' And<br />
[ti# tir,i',t'ii',-o--rri'oLt,rn of t1e i'vasion'of rights ttncl c'e.Ttl:ring r:Ise<br />
t,ithirr thrrt fi-r1-orrth pcriocl [ad pnttty well gole tty the wa]'slde. AII(I<br />
f ^'Th,, think titcv ltnve solv-cd tlrtrit pr
16<br />
it still true that the most elfective w&y of savinE lives is to recluire thrrt<br />
thc cirls trc built rvith a rncchrr,rricll ivstern s,r firey rvon't r.uri without<br />
thrl sel,tbclls bcinE in rrlace ?<br />
Mr. lVrr-so;c. Of ciurstr, thnt is what the isnition intcrlock will re-<br />
Qr11p o11 any vchir:Je constructed in thc 19?4 inoclcl ycar.<br />
nfr.<br />
'I'hc<br />
Sorrmnrnnn. problem is you have 100 million cars that wontt<br />
hrrve thern irr there.<br />
l$en*tor lJnar,r-. f know, but how long docs it take to get a turnover ?<br />
llr'. $1;Hlrrrronn. 10 nrilljon fl, vcar.<br />
fifr. ]trrrr,srl]r. Probably lrC or i? ycars beforo all vchicles rvoulcl have<br />
thcnr.<br />
Scnator Bnar-r,. Irow long docs it take to get States to pass the kind<br />
of legislatiou you flrc-<br />
IIr. \Yrr,sox. ft rnay vcrv well happcrr -a quite ratridly beeurse also in<br />
the highwav bill therc is rrn-incentive-, dolirrt: ince-ntive, to those $tates<br />
tltart wonld pass rnanclntor.y seatbclt legisla,tion, and this I believo is<br />
_2fi perrxrrrt of thcir no'rnal highway s*lety funrli. so it could be a siaable<br />
amorrnt.<br />
Surat,or Coor. May I intcrrupt 1 minute, Glenn ?<br />
Senltor lJri-rr.r,. Celtainlv.<br />
Serrttor (loox. You srr,id-on the basis of 10 rniltion a, verlr it would<br />
talre 10 years. llncler the Austla,lian law, rrry (:tr that, bicornes a usecl<br />
_autorrurhile for the purposo of resale rnust l"re oquipperl wittr scrrtbelts<br />
brr-t{:)rc thrl owltor cu,r], r'e-selI.<br />
I{orv, it sterr}s tro rnc t}rrlt we ciln pnt this into t}re la,w.<br />
Senator Brr.nr,r,. We a,re t,alking a,lrout two diJlcrerrt things, Marlow.<br />
f wls talhing nlrorrt the meclranir:aI brrsirrcris.<br />
I'[r. Scr+linrnnn. As f rrrrr]erstn,nd Senator Beall. ]re was rcfcn'ins to<br />
tho E;err,tbelt interlock systotn. Whrr,t we wcle srryin;1 wrrs that beiore<br />
thc s.ystcrm wils in all cars it lvorrld trr,lre that pcriod of tirrre.<br />
Thrrt is wh.y we havc supported the mandatory u$e lrrw, and that is<br />
whv we thinil it is verv irnir]rtant.<br />
I. rnlght also merrtioir wiirh respect to mandatory use thn,t trfr. ]Yilson<br />
antl Mi. Ilully of thc Seat Reilt Corrrrcil-I think vou rrr.e fnrililiar with<br />
this, Scrrator"()ooli-appearccl on thc t{Torlnytt sirow toget}rrlr ? weeks<br />
ago'toclay, both spenlririg in frrvor of mrnditory seatlii.rlt use lcgislatron.<br />
N[r.<br />
'lVrr,eorv.<br />
Mr. Chairma,n, mav f adrlress the problom of retrofittin,g<br />
? I rnislrt rne,rrtion that Pucrto Rico clid lequire. r'etrofitting hrl
t7<br />
senator Bnar,r,. How is that as e ra,te compnred to four-rvheeled.<br />
vehicles --M.. ?<br />
Wt*on. It is a lot higlier, but I am not in e position to tell you<br />
horv '-"S-;;;; much hir:rher.<br />
ifilrol. Are you prrparecl to come forth with recommentlad";;lr;;t<br />
ttta trislr iate ^of accidents in the trt'o-whceled' powerdriven<br />
*^ltii-fVii^tr,". vehit:le aret ?<br />
lttt, yes' we hnve been striving very hard tp.sct the<br />
States to alopt helniet iaws which retpire passerlgers tlnd drrvers of<br />
two-'rvhcclcrt vdriclcs to rvear a helmet'<br />
Wn ,it" al.so worl.ing i" fhu development of an experimentat.,*.nf*t'<br />
-,rtrrr*Vi*, t;" ;lgiiitny, to t.y to improyc the crasl survivability of<br />
tl .- m0t()rcvcle,<br />
iV; tlii,.,[-t],,,.* is n lot tlnt can 6o done here, aud we lavc 1rtst<br />
startecl sttch a progrfl,m.<br />
Mr. ScrrNmnnrrl'\rye-have issuecl several standarcls that ar-tr npplied<br />
tollotu."u"les o1lv. aircl lve hnve several others cu_rrently in the rvorkg.<br />
Srlrratoi ('on^. A * tlrose stnndtrrcls tvailable today ?<br />
Satrirtor lJt.,lr.r,.'fhtt, is nry trext question.<br />
ilr.. Coi.;tr*. S.,ti,ntor B,rail, if we mav, sir, we wo-rrlcl lilre to submit<br />
fn" tt,'0,-rl*"nrd to you our activitics in-dlie mirtorcycrlo ar(ra? the stlnd-<br />
""4*. it,*-.f"rti",i antoi of tSoso we have propo.sed nnd antioipnted.<br />
elleetive --Si"i*inr dtrtes.<br />
[Jr,:.,tr,r,. T don't wont to ineur the wrath of all the ilrotorcvcle<br />
entlnrsiasts nrounrl the corurtry, Ilut I ttrink motorc.ycles_ torlay<br />
i:'i,i,t*.orit u 1'g1y trrzardorrs forrrr of ii'tnspo"tation to_tlre people thnt<br />
oi,,ii nn Tfr** nrirl to otlrers tlrut arentt on-them. nrrrl I jrrst thittk we<br />
ouEht, to b(l doing soincthinq e{Teetively to trv to rerltrce tha acciclent<br />
;;t ;;;,;i.ir"n*i** "'-"" if it involves innkini{ ittsrr'nnce rttc's so }ligh<br />
""-nttrilt,-t"t"s sn higlt that people arc cliscottragcd fr'oln buying thcm<br />
and - ttsing thetn. 'W'tr<br />
fftr. Clt.ritn. helieve we lave a fairlv aeti'e.pr'Hmm there'<br />
senator Benll. anrl rve nre rr-orliing vcry closely rvrth tlre J:IFtrutso'<br />
Tlrcv hnve excellent sttttisties )rcre'<br />
r am not srrre of the figrrros. brrt there is a ve.ry hish pereentage.of<br />
thc accidelts. rnotolcvcle?ccicJents. tl'rat oceur with clrivers. if vou will,<br />
o" "i.loni, rvith less thatr G-motrthst exlteriencc or sotucthing lilre thrrt.<br />
This {aet. rtf coulsc. bring$ up the training problent'<br />
Mr. J\-rr.sorr. T saltt to nrention we thiril< ir, great deal ean lte done<br />
;n lh" )icensing of nrotorcycle opcrrtors on the part of the states. Here<br />
aglin thc new'ftt11lxlfl,rcls thnt were p.roposed last August t:otttaitr tl (lonsirlerltble,<br />
amottttt of nerv jnfornraiiori antl ttew rctlttirt'rnentS on the<br />
Stnt"* tn bctter license people or bettcr train thenr tircl Jieense thcm in<br />
this -'-H,,nnto" irreu.<br />
Bsrrr,r,. Perhaps a, requiremcnt th_nt thay olcy the traflie<br />
lo.s. I-n]-ost hit one tlfo rlav bl{ore ycsterclnv rr-lien f 'rvas.rlt'iving<br />
clown ]flrs"irrlrttscf f s .\ r-01rttn. lleeattse tltc nrof{)revr^lr' rvrts I'ltltr)gf I)ci*..."<br />
iJro lnnns of tm{firr. As T rsns lhorrt ready to rrrovo frorn one lane<br />
to the otlter, tlterc rvas the tnotorcyclist.<br />
l\{r. JVrr,som. T }rave setn thc strtne thing.<br />
Sentrtor lJnnr,r,. fn ncither lane.<br />
Thrrnk you verrt mtrch.<br />
Senatoi llanrin. AII right-
18<br />
I<br />
,$enntor Stevens.<br />
Senator S'r:r'xnr*s. f havc no qrtestiorrs.<br />
Scnttor' (loon. Ther.e is one point I woulcl like to make if f may,<br />
Ml. []lrrrilrnan. Mrry [?<br />
fienll{rrr: Ifnnrnn. Yes.<br />
Senatol Corlx. I tell yorr wha[ f would li]re frnrn yorr all for some<br />
tilrrt', this fall rlr next yclr'. I rvoulcl lilte. r'ecomrnerrdntir.rrrs ftom vour<br />
I)t:llrrrt;rrretrt, lil'orn Jrour agcrl(jv, r'elative. to the rnandatory reqirircmcni,$<br />
to Jeave an {rutonrobilo tlrr+ wtr,y it is. Arrrl f think t}re sarrre thing<br />
orrnlrt, to bc done x'ith motortt.ytles.<br />
Wc havtt hn,rl tr'll this hulliibtrloo ahout brrnrlrers, trrrcl rre requirc tfio<br />
Inanufactur'ei'to put the burnpers on. flncl Tri: rcquire tlren^to hnve<br />
ccrtain give ttttcl take, antl so od attcl so fol'th. Incl tjren all of a $qdderr<br />
yoll r'un into nn atrtonrr:rbile, ancl it ltrts got tirrcs tlrrrt raise thc r'car.errrl<br />
trp so fl,r that tho grry qt_n'! scc out of his mirror. lle hrs Eot his front<br />
Lrunrpcr oII. Ire lr's got his baclr brrrnper oil. IIe has got a [rrch windorv<br />
airorrt thrrt bis nrounll if he wtnts it. ^<br />
I thinlr terluiremcnls orrght-to bc madeJot the s*fety of the general<br />
prrlllic that hc caruro{, rr,lter tlrat autorno}.riltr. I l
19<br />
reverence for humnn Jifo which seems tobe.so,previllent iu tJtc Govern-<br />
;;.lji;;"i solrr.,'',tlcttt in Atrto'it-'a'socrictvtocklv-uing<br />
the way in seat-<br />
I rvill srrYio you ltelc 1'otrlru've -Attstr"a<br />
r,*rir.'Ti ii;l i-iiIh'n]^i)ii;I1,, oi xt''u.Zertlitrrtl, tSiv nre t5s onlv-<br />
N*rv Zerrlir'4 rrnd A;;t-il;i;;,' itin ot ty ii"it'.i,ttt#ies in the world<br />
t'virrs to srrvc n tot ,ri'i.iiir'fi*iiig- frot'n i'ith clcformities- Rrt'hing^in<br />
ii;{-'iT"i*r*iiv;.;',st';';;..;;-;;,fii'i;matic relntior.rs rvits France for<br />
killins ^'t]ii.l,;iiii--i*.;aent<br />
tlrcise kids'<br />
lnst night. f haveleen after the FA{. I have<br />
r.i;f th;;i;';iotv pt'n!,ntii ii-nl' rrbsol'te dislster and. disgnsting'<br />
All vo' rret is r.er:rifrti;i;tu;;: Y"tt get thern tryi*g to ettibtrlrass-P-9o-<br />
,l;. ii,,;t;.?;'r,,ri";i'iil'ii",i.**tl.i*ffds trrat lvc htwo herc, Onet Wig-<br />
^gin. ',t,,s<br />
*^t'i',,,"iuii,,,;;; liillurl l.rst ni;;lrt.<br />
j; thilrliu,rn tothY wns schccluled to be on that plane<br />
frortr Gauclnl trfotors rrud lre toolt t Privrrte<br />
jel'<br />
--iiiir'i"iiiris<br />
tur, tfrnT-inir*'tir1,rg i,,tn to i'e c]one' You. ennnot 'write<br />
erro""fiiirnfiai i* Lti*.+*,r.1',',rr" eriougS of this tctiuologiqrl clisctrssion<br />
ih,,tTte 1r,tl itrclulgitrg jtr here totltY-rrtrless )-ou (:rII gt:t' sotrte ln(:lcilso<br />
illit;;;;iir," liitiis co.'try tir cltnr*tril thnt soi'cthing.be clort:'<br />
ii'*],rl lh*r*- lt's 1oi in ttie-i'.iigt'.ts. It's not in tho atlrlinistratiotr'<br />
tTrr{ortunatrrly, I clon't t}rirrh itts in the r:outtttv ilnv rllore.<br />
A1d thnt is tl,c tr,,u6le- 'f.,i'*i'r-f<br />
,ir.ty s,,Vs,<br />
"Live ioilrly ancl. ]rell. we'll<br />
bc cleatl tomorr.c.rrr,,rry*ny, nrii'yu,,".nr,it lt{Itlt'd to live illl\r\\'nY- T1flrr:<br />
ii;;iil g"i;rg to cat ,u"e up. Eat, d'ink, utrd bc rlrelrY fol torlon'orv you<br />
Inrry ""ij.tli,i* die.tt<br />
just say this. Yo' express. Ifr. Carter, g.cat eo11ern. You<br />
siry yo. live *, gi'eat proe'r'*ut itt nrotolt:yt:les. Yoii rrlit tloirts to havs<br />
i.iiriii fittlii,t 1. ii,otot'c.ycles 'cxt year'. Right? If cveryb.dy-<br />
Mt:.'!Vrr,sox. IIY l.9il0'<br />
,scnntor llrt'r'rtn. All right. Ifow many this year? 9,1'100?<br />
trfr. trVrr-sor+. 2'500'<br />
Sentrtor l [,tn'rxri. One percent of your budget is detlicated to that<br />
prolrlcm._Arn I correct ?<br />
nfr. Wrlsox. I cor.rlcltrtt cotntnent on thtt. It coulcl be corrsiderably<br />
moI'e. -'-'St',tintn.<br />
Ifanrnn. Oh, norv, it's not. Itm telling you. Itls I petce't of<br />
vurr "'N',,;':'tl; llu(lget.<br />
shorrlcl lttorv morn thnn I know' f mean t6is is-a dcmon-<br />
".,f<br />
.di;;; ;h;iii;"i* t".t.nt thnrst, rvhlt I spolic lbottt-ttarliet'toclay.<br />
I sornetirncs feel and siry to 5ou, sctralo| cooli. ancl I kuorv 1'otr<br />
**rt".i=* ou,ir l**ti"g of frdst.ation,'maybe<br />
'rtc_otrglt to a6atr.tlrrrr tlre<br />
ili,,f - itiiiic n"ii ttrillt rrp our'hirncls anii quit. Thitt's rvlrrrt I ft:el lilie-<br />
Mv --hil t:tticuce is golle.<br />
tiuht ? I don't know whattrr do about it'<br />
"^S*"ri?,t: ,qt-..'i"i*, v.i" lrltl lr qtrtistiorr orhrrlf of one atletst? -.<br />
S"rrrrlo" S.rn'rijs". Y,ru altl,rst got me o{f on ilrlother line, Mr.<br />
Cha,irrrran.<br />
-'iliit<br />
*o'.1'estion-nn4 f :rslrtr6this last ti-me. you rvcrc ltere-is f still<br />
fro"*'ifiJ"i*nl,.it,t* of mirrry of tlre pt'ople I rell'.on s'catlv in the<br />
Alasku meclit'til profession. tlrl t]rcy telI trre thlrt lrr_r' l]tgs []'e lx)l; gitlllg<br />
lo ""We. ".1"f. nt srrbzcio temptlratums rrlien tltcy trc prolotrrtecl. -<br />
iiou*. i,r Iiirirbanlis. lreliorls ot' timii wheir it strrys helow 85o beln*'"*r*t<br />
Jgr u'ccks at a tirnc.'Ihey tell ttre t|tt thoy jrrst caltngt co1-
20<br />
template putting air bagt into vehicles that are going to remain outs;rcic<br />
nnder tlrose circurrrstancr's.<br />
f 'wrnt, to know wlretlrer' ilny rcsearclr treerr dorre at prolonged subzero<br />
{ emperrrtrrrrrs with ail bags ?<br />
Ifr. (,'errun. Il-e lrave not-clonc anv work at Drolongecl temperaturcs,<br />
Serrttor Sievens. Of coursc, as"t]re ctr,r be4Jins to'r'un, it will<br />
n'arrri ntr. a,nd the thing is essentialli'inside.<br />
fn aclciition to t]rntf-we worrlcl p"oirrt out thcre was a mur:h greflter<br />
collcet'n nbout tJris a ferv years liack when the inflntiorr dcrvico was<br />
totally rrlnpressctl gas.'I'oclrry we hrlve a so-called hvbrirl systen in a<br />
Iot of tho syslcrns. iir other #ords, it is a rrrinilnumirruo.rtrt of stored<br />
ga,s. Tlren yorr hilve gas grlrarrrtion where if you will you brrrn lrowcr<br />
to gcrncra,te the gas, which is not too srrsceptible tb the very low<br />
ternl )eta,tures.<br />
S-enr,rtor S'revnns. IJnless yorr lrrrve changctl the rlesign of the automobilus<br />
that r:oirfairr air bngi, the rrrrtomobilcs thnt r afr familiar with<br />
arrd rny<br />
!ocr!11r {r'ientls alri frLmilirrr rviL}r, hirvo henters clesignctl for<br />
the peopla.-'f hey are not clcsilgnecl to hca,t'up the air' Lra,gs.<br />
Tlrt+ air btgs rrre part-rf tlic_clashboarcl,^nnd it rtoes'not wa,rm up,<br />
contrrrrv to rvhn.t you rnight thinl
2L<br />
1? nercent worrlfl have been saved. That is roughly in the neighbor'<br />
hoo'd of about I r').000 lives. Llrly,Iihe you indicated.<br />
'I'hat<br />
is just t,lrt: strntbt:lts alonc-lalrbtlts'<br />
i* t tt ttrl* -trrtalititrs lucl been rverlirig a ltp a,nd shoulder Lrclt, 31 pcr'<br />
cent corrld har'e beert snveil'<br />
,f f ,rtt tltc cars h,rcl bet,, equipped wit[ air bag's, 18 porcent could<br />
Ittrve been srrved.<br />
If all the r:u,t.s hacl txx:tt ectttiplrcd witfi tir }ags ancl all the fatalities<br />
hacl beerr rvcrrlitrg a ltpbelt, -2tt<br />
jrcrcent could have becn savcd'<br />
I clon't suerlt {or it.<br />
I:ilrry, t1o you want to comment on that ?<br />
Ml:. Si;rt'-,nrorR. Mr. Chairnrnn, ves- Just, that it is not mislending,<br />
but I woulrl liko to point out thri'of those tlrat are snved,.thc tigrire<br />
is rouuhlv 38.000 bectruse thtt is the number that are killecl in vchicles<br />
every'yei,r. Tlre rcmaitttler are pedestrians, motorcycrlists, and so on'<br />
Se,rrritor lfentnr,:. All right.<br />
Anv other questions ?<br />
fNo resporr.tc.]<br />
Scnatol II.rnrxn. Thank vou. gelrtlemen.<br />
Tlre, next willcss *ill b,o lfr. W: I{c1ler Potter, viee presiclent, prrblie<br />
affrrirs rurtl sa,fety; Mr. Jack'frees. vice presiclent ancl chief trctualyl<br />
nnr'l Mr. Jach l{nrtess, dircctor df a.utornotive engileering, of tho<br />
AIlstate Insrrrrrnce, Co.<br />
f think you hirve some distinguished people from fndiann. with you.<br />
Itisht ?<br />
$TATEMENTS 0F W. KEII,EB P0TTER, VICE PRESIDENT, PUBIIC<br />
AFIT<strong>AIR</strong>S <strong>AND</strong> SAtr'ETY, AIf,STATE INSURANCE C0.; ACCOM'<br />
PANIED BY JACK TREES, VICE PRESIDENT <strong>AND</strong> CHIET ACTUARY;<br />
trACK MARTEI{S, DIRECTOE, AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING; CHIET<br />
PHIIIIP SPMK, SCHERERVILtrE, IND'; RAIPH WORSEY'<br />
WAUC0NDA, Itrl.; <strong>AND</strong> JOHN MATH0YT, OFFICER, U.S, IARK<br />
TOIICE, WASHINGTON, D.C.<br />
IUr. Irorrr:t. Yes, I have Chicf Spivak from Schererville, fnd.,<br />
J\[r". Iinilrh I\"otsc.y fi'orn 'l\-rrrrc
-Ivith your inclulgence, f wolldl ; * outline briefly the hackground<br />
of orrr inteltlst in this aspact of a,utomobile su.fety.<br />
T.[rc intercsb of orrrl cornpany. rs inrlecd of a,l] automobile insrrrnnce<br />
cornpanit's, in prcventing riccirltints ancl rcclrr
23<br />
matcs of the potcntial rerluctions-in injuries antl tlenths 'rvith an nir<br />
6as sr.stcnr. Cl,,r "utnft.rf oiions inclicate"that a g'otl passive.restraint<br />
*uit"- srrr:h as the, aiij bag rvill srrbstnntinlly retluce occuprllt-lnlulles<br />
a"ncl rleaths. nnrl tlrerefolc oller a grtrltttlr solll'ce, rtt tttttontttfrrlc lrlstlrrrlcc<br />
cr'st r.r'4rrction itrntr otiV irtl|r itern preserrtly bcilg corrsiclered<br />
arrcl --"iiy this incl rt tlt-'s no-f nul t i rts urtrnce'<br />
*"**siiy, o,,t 1*i.',,iin" of savings is mado r'ibh limitarl clfia<br />
ancl'tlrurcfor.e'iir,rst, Lli lonsidcrecl rrr estiinato. In tnahitlg our estirtll'te'<br />
iti* ri,,,1ot:f*r:tors "ot,*i,tnt*.i n;e"e type of rccidettl, spcccl .tt point of<br />
imlract, - rurrl occupant lrosition.<br />
f.i" iri*tri,i"*, L,,,, sirrtly of oe_cnp*rt 4caths slowcd that 89.1 pcrcont<br />
of cloaLhs ocr,,rrrlc,l t"o people in tlre front seats ancl tlut in 66.?<br />
ncrccrrt of thesc ncciilt:rrts,'tlrJ l16irrt qf itnllrrct rvas froltill, rvhit:h<br />
i-,niiirit-" li;ili;il""; of protection of-frout scitt occuprrnts in<br />
i'.lii"i ..,iriri;",;: tiltr-ircst esiinurte aftt:r revierving nll lvnilahle<br />
4rrl:a is t[at t]rgt'c.u.1rj,l ]r* rr rechrcrtion o1:o
24<br />
. rn su'rmaryr-our- bcst jutlgment is thnt r:ccluetions in oeeurrant in-<br />
JrII'rcs anrt rlealJrs due to nir bags<br />
TguL.l alrpr.oxirrrate 25-.35'pcrcenr<br />
whe',co'r1rir'r:tl to today,s rossEi. Utia"r. it'a.dnrrl "ot*rrrol.'<br />
proach-.s ttrr:s* srving; l;;1i;; ;;;,i i"-:,,ir* w'*rd be reflccted, ll=r-1tJ;<br />
fo1<br />
lolltlly inirrrv lirrbilitv insuralce al e=rrcli,+nce develons- --<br />
_ r'rtral,rating of air-b*g-equipped cars o' * jucrgrne'i basis coultr<br />
3::T\111j]*(:r prcmrums {or rrredical pirvrrrenfr-r coverngc and for per-<br />
Eonitl lnlrllv Dr'oter:tion coverrrge in no-farrlt $itales, evc[ in aclvrrnc^e of<br />
actrrul expei:ittr,,e.<br />
Norv, _iwns als' aslred<br />
by the stafl to be, rcacly to cornmcnt on severll<br />
GM strrdics pr'cserrtecl"at the recent safetv ,s,,rrrirrar. We haA ,,ot<br />
ptanne(l to cover thc$e becarr_,ie rve did not know if thcy would be<br />
tioned,<br />
rnen_<br />
illlhorrgh the chairrnrn has.<br />
,. our.rcr-ierv-prinr.s out basic: fallrrci.s i'the sfuclics antl whv rve be-<br />
Ircve thr:v sh'uid lle disregard.d. Iiur, irr the interest of time ive were<br />
not goirrg to_r:ovcr'l;henr urriesr; vou u.onJd I ikerrs; to .lnlso.<br />
Fienrltor l[,rnrxr:. rt is pe'fcr:tly a! rig]rt with mc, unless there aro<br />
otlter mernba's who wantio go afrentl, triru,ve thos,r J'llrnitled tor tt,e<br />
recorcl, because r thinlr that'even (ienerar Moti,rs inoicliteslt,at ilr""<br />
Itrtre nttt plr+sentetl thcse strtistics lrs mirtters of conclrrsive evirJenc'e<br />
tlrerns_(rl\-es) th'at they havc jrrst got them 'n the btr,sis of hest i'formatiorr<br />
thcv hnvo.<br />
I[r'. lfrtr:.s. we worr]rl i'st as soon clo that ancl not .aisc thc issue.<br />
Sr:'nator Coor. Tlhat will srrffice.<br />
tl.1ing that rerlllv<br />
.._JJt_:l]t<br />
hortrers rne. is if rhey are going ro he<br />
use(t Dv Itre. u.ltnes,q(:s for Lienelal trfotors in t,.rv wav as ari'rriiii,irrntive<br />
i! the 'ec.rrl.i'.the<br />
f,11.t:l].L"11' lltf.r<br />
p.siii.'rr<br />
_trf'rraving .,,t,nil*il {Jriu,<br />
Dut n()t at a pn[)rrc lrerr'rrrg. r'h:rt is the orr [v iJring that bot]rers mc.<br />
Mr. Turiris. IVe conlc[ coiire back later if rvou<br />
ltke.<br />
Senator Coorr. All risht.<br />
Senntor: ffnrrrnn. Ali rirrht.<br />
Il'r". Tnries.<br />
.,\orr', to, cxlilrrin orrr experienees with o'r fleet nnd<br />
c-\pr-rl'l0nces<br />
the<br />
of othcr: fleet, t'ar tlrivers, I rvou]d like to irrtrodnce Jack<br />
Mlr rtel$,.our: tlirerllor rll rrutornotir,-e erieinccring: *-<br />
covo'smo.e<br />
,_ {l:H:_Il:ks.ound<br />
tha'Ei yearsEf nutomobile cngineer_<br />
MosL rccently<br />
1T,$,:"J:_i:lt:e.<br />
hc * rr .Jrief iirrto'r.tive saf.ty crrg,r,**,.<br />
wlth Anrf'rlcan ,\lot.rs oor1r. o.[ r)ritroit. ear]ier hrrr-i'g treen*emlil..ryed<br />
i_n e'sinee'irE nrrrrngcl'e.t a'tl ctesign ------- 1,"..iti"irs-*iiiitr.-'ii-a r'-<br />
Motor<br />
Co. rrirtl Gtlneral Mot'ors Corlr.<br />
_ IIe holds thr+ chu,irnranslrip of the Arrtonrtltivo Sn,fety Committee<br />
the<br />
of<br />
so.ict,y rif r.tourotiva lirngi'ee.; ;ii;ilJ;;tir* iri,J.r,.*oi.*or""rittees<br />
arrd subcornrrrittces of the socictv_<br />
rrrrrk invo.lr-e::<br />
_,^ll_i*^qt:::rrt<br />
rr.dvisilg Allstate mf,nflgernerlt on ques_<br />
tlons ot autornobile cngi'cering and sa-fety and cotirclinating arrto_<br />
-l!il: ensineering acri_viries wiir,ru, a ro'r"tloriiiiip;;i;,il'i;;iir:cen the<br />
tlutornobrle industrv anrl our irrsur.ance intlustly. ^<br />
Jack.<br />
nfr:. l\{arrnws. Thank vou.<br />
JVe ]rtve a, brief strtrlrrient here.<br />
. A-llsl,:rtc 'erlizr:d early tlnt a, dcviee as advaneed in technolosv<br />
a.ir:<br />
as th*<br />
Lrag woultl nreet olr-position frorrr il;*l;;;;d p""rrLii.."f;ia tr,"t<br />
fl1]rltc,itrine<br />
o' ttrc stre'c'ts i" tn. "*Jirorid *our.l b" .,il"-tli#ouant*<br />
tlrc pelro'rrrarrce arrcl develop putrlic acceptarrce for the air bag. For
25<br />
this reason, we undertook to proenre the first nir-bag-equipped fleet<br />
test program. ft consistert of ?00 11)Tt Ifet'crrrys, openrtecl irr lcal rr-ollrl<br />
con.fiti.ins by Allstrrtc empl()Jccs, includirrg our cllail'tnarr of tltc boald<br />
and presidcnt. Resnlts to tlatc hnve bccn 100 pclcctrt successftrl.<br />
To satisfy onlselvt's of tlre air lxrg's capabilit.v. rvc aJso trrntluetccl a,<br />
series of dcinonstration tcsts nsing the D5inanriost:it:tice, Inc., provitrg<br />
grtrrrrrrl irt llJioenix,Itt'ia. l\to lrht otlt'rtit'lllg citl's ittrrl t'ttltltttct'l's<br />
thlorrgh hearing test exposrrnt. torrglt roitcl tt'=;ts, flving lltnp jrttups,<br />
low-slreccl impu:ts nnd a barlicl crash at tr sl)ced ot7712 mi/h, in l1I<br />
c&ses u$ing htrntan volrtntecrs.<br />
These tlsts rvcro fullv clor:umetttad, and the vehicles were instmmented<br />
erlr-rivalcnt to pi'csent indrtstry test lrrlctices. More rt:cently<br />
similar hirrnan vr-rluntier testing has-beetr fontlucterl by the llrrtoir<br />
()orp. at irrriract sller:rls corrir,irlt:ttt to a i0-rrrir/h (rl'ilsh illt.o a ltlrr'litld<br />
c&r.<br />
Wo have followed up eaeh air-bag-involved accident, either by personnl<br />
investigation or in cooperrrtiou rvith thc Deptrr'lrrtent of Trtrtrs-<br />
Irortrr{,ion. Tn-some instances we havc cooperntcci rvith DOT acciderrt<br />
investigatirrg tcams by loaning cquiprnell-for testing and study to ruid<br />
them in nccicletrt rrtconstrur:tion.<br />
Itrarlv in 19?2 Genertl }[otors stated puhliclv its intention to produce<br />
1ii00 nir-bag-equippctl otls to be lensecl to fleet optrators for<br />
exparrcled rel,l-woilcl testiirg. 'l'lx:sc crlts l\'erc to Lre built lvithout seatbcits<br />
i1 tho front seats and wete to oiler occupant protctrtiol bV the<br />
air bag for the driver a.nd both front seilt prsscllg{irs' We immecliattrly<br />
aslccd.'t6 trartisipate in tlris e'Irclcavor gnd rrrged GM to expnnrl the<br />
ffcet to cvet-t ],rrsei q uantitics.<br />
On Arsrrst Z+, Ut?!, I lvrotc to Mr. L. Lundstrom of GNI requestirtg<br />
B0g crrs ivhir:h we woultl hrry to expand tlre flr:ct size r'rbovc tfuc 1,0{)0<br />
nrorrosecl. We ollererl to pav for aclded costs of the cals if requircd.<br />
ilur intent was to improie'tlrt'. cxposure plolltr[ilitir,.s of atrcident itrvolvernent<br />
of air bag itars. Our retiur'st-u'as turnccl tlo*-rr bccause GM<br />
fglt il, 1.000-r.'.1r'flcet ivns irrltirlrrirte. lirrrl they u.rrtrtctl to lettr in orvner"ship<br />
throuch a letrstr progrfl,m. GII dirl, horvever, lease 33 suclr cars to AIIst,rte,<br />
a.s l)ilrt of itls 1,000-cur-Il'iet test.<br />
fn t rlt.l Gtrf arrtrounced it irrtetrded to offer 100,000 sueh cars optionallv<br />
to thc prrblic in 19?4. 'ftris we consirlttrcd a gilrnt step forrvard in<br />
iii'irvidirts tilr trlatfornr for a final stage detnonsttltion of the potential<br />
ior ret,l-iv.,r'Idair bag performan(:e. \1-e pllr:c fitrn ordcrs for more<br />
ihrrr 200 cars with tlie -Olclsruobile l)ivision of (iM arorrncl 'Tuno 15t<br />
igit. W- Sirve si'c* been inf'rnred tturt, the de,livcr;y will'lrrr delaved.<br />
w" t ou* this is only a brief clclay and thnt GM is still firn ly com-<br />
*ii.t"ato the 100,000 optional truild for' 11174 modcl yeilr. Any furtler<br />
delay coulcl be a botty lrlorv to the passive restrtr'int p-r.ogrrr.m'<br />
.<br />
ffittever G]\I's reasr.rrrs {ol t}re clelay, rve do not bclieve it related to<br />
the -:-Li highly successfrrl perfornrance of existing tes-t vehicles. -<br />
ii,*."r**ent (ilt drrvironrncrrt*l arrtt Safirty Setnintr on ,fune 20gt,l$tB;<br />
Mr'. Georgo ,inrith o.t Gi\,I peporled ori l}'ovirrg.sround cr:irsh<br />
[r,.#* wli"h wele riietl to ev&]utte t]re l.tt0t)-cur1)hevy fleet. The f}M<br />
Ctirporation is to be rxlmplimerrtLecl for tho extt:nt of thes': test crnshes.<br />
l:heir not, only covcrcd nll the crrllcnt rctluirenrent$ oI st:r,ntlar'cl ?08that,'is.<br />
t:r.asfies rrt i]0 nri/h frontll, 30 mi/]i at i]0-cleglee trrglcs, 20 rni/h<br />
sicle iuiptrcts and roof crush tests-but rvertt be-yorrd.
26<br />
The presentation depieted B0 milh pole crashes, 60 milh crashes into<br />
a prrrlrecl car rrith .30 irercent frontirf overlap, aritl rr 30 nrilh brrrnlrer<br />
unc.ltrl'r'ide crash rvhere the Lrutnpcr rnade no-t:onLnclt with thc l.rarlier'.<br />
But. trtost irrrlrressivtl wirs fl. started cr'ash of an air-crrshion-ecluilrpccl<br />
cirl tnto rr starrtlinE car rrncl thcn htving t.hat srrne vehicle contirirreiirto<br />
n, solitl ban'jer rvith nll durnrnics strrviig belorv thc lrr.esr:ribccl iniurv<br />
cl'itcrirr of stirldnr'cl 20S. Only ail crrshioris rvere usecl"for trrotectioir. "<br />
prpers<br />
..Other<br />
also u'cre ddlivclcci at this confclurr:e ev^aluating the<br />
e{Irrctiveness of vru'ious restla,int svlltcrrrs. Wc fccl tliu,t the conclursions<br />
dritrvtt bv the (iM presr:utt:r'$ lvere blscrl on hig-hlv srrbjective rnaterial,<br />
as ][r.'Irees has sct fort]r in detail, anrl we fcel thes"e stnclics arc oli<br />
limitrxl vtllne sincc they rlude to bclt uFirlge, bcnrlits jf worn. our pr.s[<br />
experient:e in belt protnotiort ilru).lxl'allls ]eacls rri; to believe lhey calnot<br />
be acr:ornplishcd. The studiesf thcrcfore, we fcel, r.lise morc questirlns<br />
t,lla]] tltcv a,nswer"<br />
There-arc critics who profess tlurt belts, if wor-n, are e cost-erTective<br />
a,lte,rrrate to control frr,talitics. Brrl; even tircso critibs clo rrot cha,llsnse<br />
the nir.bag',s super'iol lr.erfor:manc.e in_frrntlr,l irrrlractg, arid at rrig|Er<br />
spet:tl:s - in lerluein'q injtr'ies irnd siirvirrg liyes,<br />
t'he sictc-implct rrritl sitltrsrvipc, criiics r:hnr.ste thc rir bag as a nonpcr'forrrre,r',<br />
brrt they alr: fr.r'ilirrg less thlrn tht: total siorv. A brrsic fact<br />
aplleilrs.to [:r:, Dcglet:tect. Lalr hdts rvhen worn ]ra.vo been knorvn to producc<br />
ul.l rlrv jo the occullflnt from {r'ont nntl sidc inrlrncts. A rccent<br />
lcPort ilom ]lorrirs]r llnivrlrsit..y of Vicl or'.y, Austlrrlia,^strrfes tlra,t imp,r,gprrrlv<br />
fitted belts do i_rr fact causc in jurv. Iu sicltl inrpac{ s thc air.bag,<br />
alihorrgh s,f sonre possible lrelp to irrirrry reclrrr:tion. slronkl trut l* i'*ii*=,i<br />
ulxrn t,rtlily to "solvr: thc prolllcm. 'l'he problem rcilrrires a st:ronger car<br />
l,j,l: :tt:,1:t'jtq tF prevtnt_.collapse .of the irnpacrecl.car,; sicle'guard<br />
berrms are he,1p"fnl<br />
_herr:.<br />
Ilnl; intelior pu,dcling trr clistrihutc concen_<br />
tr'irt(lc[ lnp&(:t lolirls, {rr nrorc t:orrtourerl seat c,lesigns 1;o retrrin tho<br />
seillrr'd oc{'rlr}fl,_ntr rIl'{l rn()ro positivc irllslvlrrs to sidcr ir:nplci rrotectiorr,<br />
l[,othet w11'rfs. alt]rorri{h thtl .air. ba,g is tlre }lest irnrnr:rlirite'ans'cr: to<br />
rc(Iuc(r In1lllttles arrrt rrrirrncs irr rnost tyJrrs of r_-rnshes, it i; rrol, a<br />
aceit'frtra1lt:r.aslrc-:irtltrrristarrc0si.Il(]ristilesaai;1re]f.<br />
lliur_<br />
Ifor'r: rnrrst he clone to imlrr'ove the velri,clrlrs sidc stnrcture fran.qibility<br />
an,l rollo'cr o.cr.pn't dj.ction potenti'r, art;r.;i;;;;;i+n,.i'*"*t<br />
ntldo<br />
r,e<br />
to rrtilize othcr;passive merrfo, such as padrliru ,irij i"ip"or,"a<br />
scirf tilesigrrs.<br />
^ --f ho *ir ba.q is a devico tlurt works in spite of the occrrlra't,$ apafhv.<br />
r\lterna,fe forr-.ecl action_ syst;ems snch a,i tt,* rrlz+ il;ii,il l',tc"tn,ck<br />
bclt svstrrr'r if rv.r'n, will aicl. *,r_ogr-*,,, it-, r.ttn +ntnlltv-r.,j,,.ii.irr rrntt.le.<br />
*"0..ilre nc\v<br />
l1lrll<br />
1[1'-5-r1p;lln urtentler{ for 1f)Tl nre el$ily clefentablr. -\rrd<br />
$'hen rrrol'c cost is nddcrl_to-Lhtrse systems to orrfir,c.urure their<br />
sh'rtcor'i'gs, lrreseut<br />
[ ]rnve ritlrro croubt tiiat in prdi;;ii"";-oirir,r*<br />
bag nrar"<br />
In*<br />
evcrl rrin<br />
oi"<br />
thr+ c:ost llrttlo.<br />
The clclav 'f the GM 100.00-0 car program is clisappointing, to sav<br />
l}:j:l:l:^t:rdn1' rsit'cssr-,-s rviil *1,r,i,n.*.'},ii t,,,;;-ii;;;i'-ii,,.,iii,,r, tr,o<br />
ox]ltlren{ro ot ,arr'-ha,g protection. il.heir frrcts shorrld spealr<br />
sclve'sfbrJ<br />
them_<br />
-I31t a goori pir'ssiva restrairrt ,t*ui**, *ir"rr ut t;-,i<br />
try<br />
ilii;tentjer{<br />
GXI. lirr.futrliriprrrchnsr,, troru tn,i;,-i,* in limbo. IVc lravo<br />
re{rsorr f.<br />
eycry<br />
}rclieve thiit t}re relerr,se of t}i'e 100.000 optionril rnr,st;dif<br />
]'jIJ1.1',ll: iljll'l*l. n,nct.srill-c'' srarr. ari,r"i,rir,,,ci.,* ni;"ii,,Jrv<br />
petrtroll "o,rr_<br />
ior ilir-tril,q-et1ilillpcd car.s, whorr ollr-r coilrparr,s thc iot.+ igni_
27<br />
tion interlock system with nn air-ba-g-option c$.r. -tr'or -example,<br />
atrottii,tl<br />
ttiCtr-pli.:6d cirr compftr'cd rvitfi a, 1$?.t.nir-}ag.Cadillnc rnny<br />
ot p,,nI' riutinr*,d witfi lrclts, Lruzzers antl rr-at'nitrg.lig]rt,s; antl iu this<br />
u"li,:e b,rr,ctl.r:t:ri1()0 io {i150 is small r:ost fot'tht'option of atr nir llng-tf<br />
it's rvlilrtble. ('l'lre cost of irrterloclis of perhaPs $50 ciln probably<br />
also be. tL:ducted from this {igrrlc.)<br />
'I.'he<br />
optionll irpprotrcl'r lirrs trrbuglrt abortt nlntost rttriversnl acc_eptnncc<br />
of current lriliornrut;it: tranSmissiolrs, racing strilteS, sterco radios,<br />
.w-lritrl sitle.rvalI tiles, vitryl roo{s, et trt-'terir. t'ithout saving a single life<br />
nrrcl *'ith sctttt refertrrrce to irttlrcase d lttrtotnttbilc cost'<br />
,\t Allstatc rr'e lrtvc stticl we lrt:licve tlro nil bng is relrl.Y now. We<br />
*till fecl so. I'he l\fcrcurvs in orrr {lert-test, progrru]r are crrrrcntly<br />
evrthrirtitg r balt rlesign sinril,rt' to tlre_Fot'tl tll?4 s1'stem. ()rrr-ignitio-n<br />
intrlrlocJr'bull, svstem'(if not tlcfeatcd) docs trot folce slrorrlcler belt<br />
rlrJtgcr only lalr'Lrelt rrsiqe. It hts. hou'ever, clevclolretl etrolrrrorts critisisrii<br />
til. rrti'strit Allrrl.ntr: clrivers ancl n sunrmary of tltosecorrtrttcttts httg<br />
brrtrn lilcd in thc docltet, rcla'iirrg to stn,rrrlrrt'cl 20,9.<br />
Trvo ar:trral ct'asfies g{' MercitrY ,ail blg cars htlve taken plnce w}rero<br />
thc olrelltor ha{ cftrft:rrtcd t|c iglitiorr interloelr s.ystt'n'r. frr both instrrntlis,<br />
gvetr thouglr thc c[r'iver"-rras rtnbtlted, the air blg took over<br />
and stvcd Jives ancl le(luctd injrtrics.<br />
llhc air lrug can be ollt:ctil'e tls a totallv passive systenr rrithout lnpbelts,<br />
if a mrtiirrfrrctulcr clrooses to build srti'h l ear clttrittg the optiorrrrl<br />
periotl liclmitted by starrchrtl 203 ancl priol to ftrll mttrrrlrrlorv pls:iive<br />
i'eqlirchrents. Ilori'evcr, until stirtttltrritl 20$ intllurlcs a weil-ilefinod<br />
rollover test rleLlrocl, rvtl rtill itrstnll irrpbelts itr tlre rrir bng cill's we<br />
pultfilse<br />
-trac:{s in tho ftrture. tr\rc trelieva thc ertlrr lrrotectiorr in sitlc irnrrlcl<br />
r'ollovcrs rnirlres the ndtlition of tr, lrtp bclt tlcsjrrrhltl. Tltcre<br />
is strrt'te f,rrrrlt:ol[ jnvoh'ed, sintle in lrigh-spced frrttrtal collisiorts tho<br />
lrclt mtrv rcsrrlt in somc inierrul inirrrii's, rrlherens tlrc,air bag rvithorrt<br />
a bolt tnav eliruitratc srrtfi iniuries. We will consitler it a r:edunclnnt<br />
baclrun to thc lssurucl lrelftltrltatttc of air bags, trntil thc hrrlnnce of<br />
thc plis--ivc prtrterrtion -rerluir'errtents have lxtr,tt ncltievecl-lrv better<br />
sert i.lcsi11rr, lictter inlerior pttlrling, and lry bctter antieject,iorr protection<br />
as u. total systern of occrtpnnt protectiotr. I{owevcr, rve clo_not obier:t<br />
to n manulnctrrlnt"s ttnil prrtchalct'ts olttiou irr r'cgirtd to lnptrelts<br />
dnlirtg this plrrrseirr periocl.<br />
Noiv ns rielrrtes Io our fiekl experienee, T worrlrl likc to present n<br />
$umm&ry of sorrre of thc re*rnt, aii bag involvecl tcr:irlttrtt vehiclrrs. a,nrl<br />
nlso pre"scnt a ferv nonvictjm aeeiclent pa,rticitrtltrts rvlto have lived<br />
throrigh the,. experie.nee of air hag crashis. 'I'hen lr-e rvill flnswer a,ny<br />
o ' uestions this cornrnittee mav hnve,<br />
'fhis<br />
fSlirl
28<br />
Our driver was woar.ing olly his _lrrpbelt._Tho rigirt seat air bag<br />
deployecl pcrfectly-and oul clr.iver fclL }^re still won fr'6rn it.<br />
_ .Tltg angle of impact, alrnosh 45 de.grerls, thr.ew hjm folrvard ancl to<br />
his right- Attcr crittinE his fortilretul on'his rcrrr yision rnin'or. he<br />
buriecl his facc in the center passenger rrir. Lraq, insterd of the
29<br />
Mercury was cntering the freewfly on one r&mpr while an MG rvas entering<br />
6n another. A*s the Mercury paralleled- the ilIG's ontry ra.mp,<br />
the t\trG overac:celerated on wet pivdment, did an end-around spinand<br />
collidecl head on with the MErcury. at 15 to 25 miles per hour.<br />
[Slirle.] This is tho Mercury. Agaiir, there wns no air-bag.for the<br />
driier, brit he wns \\-earing hii lapTlelt. He received minor injurieschest<br />
and sJrouldcr pains, sprained hand, and right forerrrm contusion.<br />
I-Iis right seat pa,sstrnger', r lrrwyer for thc -{-tomic Energy Comnrission,<br />
ivas behirid the air'bug, trritl was totally ntrhurt. ITeJbo, wns<br />
u-errring his lanbelt. Ilere ienition interlocks worked. He was also<br />
wcarin*g glassei. 'l'hey wu'e ieithcr broken nor knocked out of place<br />
on his frce by the air bag deployment.<br />
Wharr the"IJniversitr;-o* Sorithem California-I)OT contract crash<br />
invcstigrrting tenrn wenr ablc to interview hirn later, thcy learned he<br />
hatl letr for .3 tlays o{ skiing tt Stltrrrv V*llcy immediatbly after the<br />
ca,sh.<br />
ISlide.]<br />
This is the ll[G after the crash.<br />
ISlide.]<br />
Tho un-belted MG driver sustfl,ined a right foot injury on that shqrp<br />
nretui accelerirtor pcrhl, plus clrest and allclorninal iniuric's rrrlld-multiple<br />
brrriscs. Notir:e'the deiormetl sttrering rvheel of the MG--dcformed.<br />
irv the force of the driverrs hands durinfi impact'<br />
lSlid.c.l<br />
Near llederiek, DId., on Altril 5. an air bng test Mereury traveling<br />
on a tlroroughfat'c wa$ str'ucli lt lrlmost a right atrgle, in tlre driverts<br />
floor'. by tr. sihool l.rrrs rrt a,rt intelserrtion. Thisis the M.ercurv,, with thc<br />
imprinl of the sc]rool brr-- ]nrrnper _indeliblv in its rnidsection.<br />
thi* *ns n t:rrrions typt: of cta.sh, first of iis brondside ltind involving<br />
nrr air trtg. and it opened an entire ncw vista to the vnluc of air.bags,<br />
rvr feel. it'lrcy we"dnever intendecl to clellloy in broadside collisions<br />
such as llhis.<br />
Notice the deerr pentration of the car at the joint between its fmnt<br />
fender nntl front-d6or.<br />
ISlide.1<br />
Ti,,: c]'rrnneJ-benm bumper of this sehool brrs hrrng in that front<br />
fcr,cler: nntl door nrea of the Merctrry, inevitablv stripping it ofi' So<br />
stlr(Iv wirs the b1r1per, atrrl so deep-its liite into-the r:lr, that it producccl<br />
virtrrnllV the snmb efiect upori the (:&r a,S a frotrtal collision-an<br />
nbrrrpt dtx:elera,tion. to rr stop-srifficilntl;y srrdden to cause the rrir bag<br />
s.r'srir tr:r 'enct as to tt frontal collision.-This l\[erc'rY, lilic our All-<br />
"tot" "0,"*. was equipped onlv with righi front seat air bngs.<br />
f Slicle.l<br />
il.,o s*-'er" imurlet of the bus into the clriyerts cloor sl*mmecl him<br />
into his cloor: inttrior, toward tllc bus, furcturing his lcft collarllone'<br />
Then h" r'eborrnrlerl hack t() his right. torvard the passen*o.er: se8.lr wlele<br />
the air lrrrg was still in a neltr frrl1v tlcployecl condition' Insi:cacl of hittils<br />
the rirrsh nnnr+J or right door. he-was afusorbecl into thc cleflnting<br />
"l"'irn". Tt o. ,trivei tolrl thc cnsli investigrrting team he is eorrvilrcecl<br />
thnt, tiie air crrshion spared him from fitrther inirrry' FTc will nevcr be<br />
dtite:rmined right or iurnrg irr this, blrt we fcel as the driver does-it<br />
was rticc to haie tlrrrt pillo* rrlongside hirn'<br />
23-080-73-3
:80<br />
. Thl- .driyoT, incjdentally, also_ hacl defeated his seatbelt ignitidn<br />
interloclr. He had the belt filstened arrd tuckctl uncler him.<br />
'Ihis IStide.]<br />
js Rock Creek Parkway, in_the Distriet of Cohunbia. It is patrullet.l<br />
bv-the rl.S. Park Police of the Departmerrt of thc rnte.ior. fhc<br />
l'alk Pohce are testing a small Ilcct ot' tho rgrl] Chevrok:ts rr-itfi air<br />
bags{or both driver anld front seat passengers, find without seatberts,<br />
IS1;tle.]<br />
- rrr Apr:i,l, this Dodge drifted over the centerline of the parkway, and<br />
--- -- ---r<br />
I-rrrrie
El<br />
-ins<br />
ear which made an instont. unsignalcd left turn. IIis'cor jurhu?d<br />
a iinrl!l curbing, - and hit this sturdy lieclge trcc 20 feet beyond - tire crirb.<br />
[Slicle.]<br />
,.<br />
'<br />
Ilere is the cnr &fter severe irnpact'rvith ths tree. Roth air bags deployed<br />
perfectly.<br />
f Slide.l ,<br />
the dliver did encounter a small problem. His instant swerye to the<br />
left cnusctl his upper tol$o to lcan sliglrtly to tho right of tlrrr steeting<br />
whccl. rrncl hc triil ttttr benefit of hitiins'both thc iiriver,anrl centei-<br />
$eirl, oircul)alt air bags. But in the coursd of his fr,rrrvntd rnrttion rs the<br />
car brrr:ieil iiself intii the tlec. r'errorts state thnt he slirl betrveen the<br />
two trir tings. IIis heilrl strrrr:lr'hiJ rr:n,r'-vision mirror. llrrshing it into<br />
thc l-inclsJrie.lcl and cracking thc sla,ss. llllre driver srrJferctl fl very<br />
minor cut ou his cheek, and ri- bmisdd shoulcler florrr soft irrrpact with<br />
the instrrtrrrent panerl. Tle rcqrrired no merlical atterrtiort, horvertrt'. The<br />
air bags hrltl been rernovcd Lrv GIf and I)O'f lnvestigntiori rvlurn these<br />
pllotos rvere tnken a corrple of clu,ys lrrter, and thrrtts why the stccr'ing<br />
wheel center looks strippcd.<br />
I rrrn srrre GM will-sluncl on this crash and some of their othere.<br />
f Slido.l<br />
fn some ll.{ million miles of combincd trtr,vel to tlate bv Ure 1.800<br />
Chev.y rncl trIercury air llagl test cars. there have been 12 succcssfrrl'air<br />
b_ag
32<br />
Spivnlr, who is with us toclay, and went to the scene, slid ho is convinced<br />
the driver's air bas sai'ed the worrt&u:s life, since the front of<br />
her ca.r was totallv demolis,hed.<br />
Thc woman su"stained a krrver Ieg fracture and foot injuries in the<br />
impact. IIer infant sou \1'rrsr fatallyinjured in thc crash. GM may repolt<br />
- frrrthel orr this cvent.<br />
[Stide.]<br />
Accorrl-inE to a National Hiuhwav Tra{lic Safety Administration<br />
spokesrnan,"the panic lrlaliing df the"ruornan's car b6fore irnptrct with<br />
tle tr:uck tttJrr:ew-the chi td oil t}re sert l)eforr] the air bag ever: deplo.yod.tt<br />
As rt. pa,rt of tlreir exrrminfl,tiorl of the 0r*sh fl,nd tirc infantrs rienth,<br />
a DOT^ investigating teir,m from Inditlntr, Ifnivorsity made sevelal<br />
panic - lrlal
33<br />
I{ere'.q fl eloser view of the police car damage. Notice th_at at 68<br />
*ij;;^;r; h;;;, ii* uor,*1"y p*n[1*t*a ut *,e ^*-*ythrough<br />
the tr.rnk<br />
and to the rear door pillar, a distance of alrnost trve teet'<br />
iSlicle.l<br />
itt"ili,;i*'* n t:lose-up of the rir btg Morcury that did it'-<br />
Itemt:rtrber no*-t$o- o"i-"i tt"? "f thttsle Ford air bag erash inoolvenrclts<br />
you've *"*tt*. ilri, tlrivers htrd t'licu spccial- steps to nvoid<br />
filstcnirrs their sentbclts tnd rlefcrrt the igrrition interlock systems.<br />
I Slirle.l<br />
tir*'\i"r*tti"gton Post reported on Fritlny,lune 1$, 19?3, that this<br />
U.B. porf. Po'l=rce "rui**.-#itn emersency tliittt* a'cl 'sirsn bpernting<br />
"*oifia*a *i[tt tttn **oii of a seconcl i,uto. The cras]r occurred on the<br />
H;o"'WashinEton Merttorial I'itrkwav in -i\rlington' Speed clifrer-<br />
;rt ;Tl-i;-;ii-tir- tr* .irrs w1!r estirnrrterl at 25 to 35 miles per hour.<br />
lSIide.l<br />
ii**, Flcre ir'a rs a, closer view Yrew of ot the nir alr bag-erluipped<br />
Da,g-equrppeo vehicle. verllcru' It rt' was 11 ds occu' uwupili;y<br />
il"i'; TT-s- tlS. F"."k i'*.t Folice Privatcs .iottil .l"ohn.F. F. Nfalhovt ltalhoqt' and .farnes A'<br />
?l.l<br />
JXtl,*-.*<br />
iv*ut."'. Ratlror th[n to report on thcir injuries rrnd feelings, I'll stop<br />
our --,i*n'itn. rel)ort here nnd introiluce the three *'ittresses, if we may'<br />
If.,t*r.xr. Fine. IVe will 'roeeed-u.ith the othe.r-witnesses.<br />
biii"t Srri"uk, it iJ good to see you here from Schererville.<br />
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',<br />
rnd --S*ut"" Officer 'Iohn Malhoyt from Washington,I)'C,'<br />
lfnt "or. It is an ho'or to fiir,vo you here. fn euch cirtumstanrres<br />
we rvill llc glad to hcar yoUr testiryony.<br />
Ifr. $rrven. r\Ii. Ch*irntan, I arn Phillip Spivak' I h*ve been s<br />
rr"ti""*u" for 18 years. I have tx|en the chief of police for the tourr of<br />
Schererville for the. past I years.<br />
Schererville is loiated in northwest Indiano in what is known as<br />
the Calumet region. Two major highways, U.S. 41 &nd U.S. 80, inter'<br />
sect within our to'w'tt limits.<br />
In mv ye&r$ fl.s a policeman, f have covered hundreds of occidenh<br />
,f *ff^i"ori**, involviis commercial and passenger vehicles. Mony of<br />
the.se tr_ilirft:nts were oT the head-on type, in which tlre driver f,,Iweye<br />
sufrers some severe chest ancl head injuriesrrr<br />
investigating these acciclerrts,-i hrwo always_felt thf,t thenB w0,8<br />
a necd fo. trir aut;mntic safety dcvice which would not depend on the<br />
human clerne,rrt. In s, major fortion of aceiclents wherc injlrries were<br />
r.rfe"ea, tlre stanrlartl stfety^clevicas wcre pre$errt, but thc'driver und<br />
^ Dassengors had ftilecl to use them.<br />
I t-,uli read and lcard of a 'ew type of automrutie air bag which was<br />
beins installed in these vchicles.-tr{y {irst encorrnter wit}r this new<br />
srfeiv clevice occur:retl otr May 16, 1973, at'tr'li5 P.Irr-r oII IJ'S. Ilighrvruy<br />
41. - arinroxirnately 180 feet south of Airport Roldi<br />
i'dsponcled to a call to investigatd an accident. Upon arrival, I<br />
found ri rgtt Ir'orcl van and a 19?3 ftnrr-door Chevy nnd a 1966 GMC<br />
tprck. Irrvcstirratiorr of the 1t)?3 Chevrolet immedietoly revoaled to<br />
mv ilmf,zemerii, that it was equippetl with the nntomatiC air bng' Apparentlr<br />
the hags hacl deployed upon collision and were in the procesri<br />
of slowly deflating.<br />
In mv orrinion. had these safetv devices not been present' the driver<br />
would fiav'e sufiered severe ches[ and head injuriei, and also lacera-
34<br />
tibns fron flyii.rg glass which might have rosurted in another highway<br />
tatll trtv.<br />
I .-l'rilerely feel that<br />
ifsimihr<br />
siafety clevic:es rlre installetl in todrly's<br />
vehrcJcr.r, the ainourrt of highway fatalities and in-iuries rvill be drasticnllv<br />
leclucerl.<br />
- serrator r:r.c*rnn. The ehild in this case had no sn,fety rlevice and<br />
there was notling to prcvent ilr*t chirrr from slippirig;fitlic seat? rs<br />
thtt correct. Chief?<br />
' l{r. Srrv,ur. Yes, thnt is correet. There was no sa,fetv device.<br />
Senu,tor FT,rmru.<br />
'tr'lranlr<br />
-- - -<br />
'<br />
vou. Chief.<br />
Mr'. Worrsn'rr. Mr. Chairrirnn,'rn.yrlamg is Rrllph W'rsey, tryauconcla,<br />
rl1..r think.ro. s'rr- lrr
35<br />
delrice system that will protect him regarcllcss of his actions or fiis<br />
decisions.<br />
T'irrrt is all I haveto sav..<br />
Senator llan'lnr:. I haic no rluestions. Thank you.<br />
Senator (.look.<br />
Sentt
36<br />
Mr. Mln'rr,ws. They have a combination whero they tie into the<br />
shoulder harness. Thd lap and shoulder base is fastendd together so<br />
you must use both. But lhe problem of takeup or the lapbElt is the<br />
same in 1974 cars.<br />
Senator Coon. I see.<br />
Mr. Ma-maws. In fact, his system is a 19?4lapbelt system.<br />
Senator Coor. It is no* atl iriclusive ?<br />
Mr. Nfartrrws. No, rro, the car involved in the air-bag necident was<br />
also evalua.ting tho ignition intorlock Bystem at thc tiine. Does that<br />
a,nswer your question!<br />
Mr. 'Wonsny. In other wordg. f couldntt stf,rt mv cf,r. The horn<br />
would continuo to blow you rig[t out of the seat unless that belt was<br />
pulled out.<br />
And the objection of most of us-and f have to Bpefl.k of men who<br />
use c&rs as n. business wtr.y of life, travel many miles a yenr'-the darrr<br />
things a.rn just verv urrcomfortatrle.<br />
Aiid, aftbr ail, dhen you have to sit there to perform your job, you<br />
would like to be comfortable and get to thc point-. W'hen you are sitting<br />
about like this [indicating], ycri can harilly move, plus being very<br />
uncomfortable. -<br />
I realize it's safety. I realize you take a chance when you dontt wear<br />
thern. Ilut I suppose, being a p&ssive citizen like most, of us are, you<br />
say, "Well, the chances of me getting hit are minirnal," and so you<br />
tako the ch*nce end try to afford foiany hours of comfort.<br />
Senator Coor. I dontt see how anybbdy f,.round the'Washington area,<br />
with as manv accidentg a.s thev ndss eferv dav on the Geor:se Washington<br />
Park-wav &nd e few o[hir places.'cutf no"" eet the idea that<br />
thEir chances of beine in an nccidenf are minimal. I rriust tell vou.<br />
This driving comn-iunity up hero is an "accideit Iooking fdr a pleee<br />
tc happen."<br />
Mr. Wonspv. TFhen you drive some of theso turnpikes, like from<br />
Chicago.to Minneap_olis, or rrp to Duluth, it is a 4- or 5^- or 6'hour haul.<br />
The horizon keeps disappcaring in ths foreground s,s you keep going<br />
out. The monotoiry monotoirv seG gets worso d'nd nnd, worse. Antt tho se;t sdt sets gets fesE ant<br />
less comfortable.<br />
Mr. Manrrms. Senator Cook, in the State of filinoie, rve have toll*<br />
wavs, and we have booths where we have to nav evelv I miles or so,<br />
and iir driving these ignition interlock systemi, it is "ehlly somethingi<br />
because by thE'timc ydu get fnstened in Lncl gct to the nc-xt toll bootlfi<br />
ancl you have to go back to your clrrrrtge again ancl start up nnd try to<br />
get the bazzer to-s'top buezing and the iighlb to stop flashinfi, it becornes<br />
il r'rther weird thin$, to say lhe lenst.<br />
Senator lfnnrxn. All right. Go ahead, Ofreer Malhoyt.<br />
'Washington, Officor Mer,non. My name is John Malhoyt, Il.S. Park Police,<br />
D.C.<br />
On thc lBth of July, I was involved in a motor vehicle aecident on<br />
thg Gecrgc Wa,shington Mcmorial Pa,rkwrry, involving n, 1g7B Chevrolet<br />
fmpala, a fou-r-door sedan equippcd" *ith ttre d,ir-cushion restraint<br />
Bvstern.<br />
'I'he<br />
a"ecitlent, as all accidcnts hapDen. occurred verv qrricklv. I'he<br />
vehiclc sto14r-etl'abruptly in front of ine,'and I had no wdy to dhange<br />
lancs to trvoid a collisron.
37<br />
As soon as the rrehicle stnrtecl to sl.oy, I applied the brnlres anrl<br />
sl
[]B<br />
_"T*^-lll,b1ti..i}'rt.*o*<br />
il ttS ear flrat Mr. Iyor:sey rvas<br />
pcrrrnentar<br />
in wris an ex-<br />
s.ys;ten rrorn the Eirton corlronrtion, wliich<br />
nrrd<br />
inflates<br />
drlcs<br />
trrc tirrg<br />
rrot ncce,.,;srrr.ilv rrlr on ,:ollrrlrs'c ,,il:]r;,li;;;fins",rt],rJ".<br />
hnusts gas<br />
rt,,*_<br />
ontof the Lias ulm,rst i,rst,ririail;;jy;""-<br />
.L|erc :lr'fl flr]l{lr(rlrrrls rn ilrc_rvav Ilrel- work. r woukl imagine__rncl<br />
r arn o'l.v spce.lari'g-that the ilanr,,rge tv i.rr- L;i;,; *ufl,,.rr* ",,t<br />
{rown sonro of ilre lt+rfor.milncc of t}re t}M bag s.ystenr.'r think<br />
rcirtty<br />
it should<br />
lro up to (if,l to ta_lk rborri, thc trrhnica,iasirects.<br />
ficnrrtor'C)r-rort.'Ihilrrl< rou.<br />
. sc'ator Tlan'r'r*1. Thaf is a,ll the q*rrstio's r have. Tha'lr you.<br />
[T}reinforrna1;iotrrtlferrccltocar'lidrI.;ii;i;-.j'-<br />
coarMrNrg ow GsrcERAr Moror'B pl"pse RpaanDrNc E'FEcrrvENEss oE,. vaarouB -.-<br />
Itnsrt,trm't Slrslulrs , I<br />
At the Generfll Motors Safety $erhinar eonducted in .Iune, two gf the papers<br />
that were presented reviewetl potentiar ene*-i-i*n**, of various restraint<br />
thirt nre<br />
Bysteus<br />
unrrer conrridelation,<br />
-t)ne<br />
pa1,.," wa,s iitreo, nesi";i"f<br />
ness-*A<br />
si.sti,;ilxfie.,tiv"_<br />
Study of Fntal ,{ccldents, trntl t}re ,seconrl was tiilerl, lJtneflt<br />
l)iglt<br />
Stlrly of<br />
Yrrhicle ocrcupant-Restrnirri tlo*figurErtiorrs. Boilr orlrri,se po1,.r"*,<br />
arrthored<br />
**r*<br />
enfirely try eruployees of Gererafnfotors.<br />
I)ue to our corrrpany'glntilrest in restraina;y,.rie;rr and their potential<br />
ness,<br />
effective*<br />
nnrl the frret that the sturlles appenre{ to give rlrarnatieally<br />
'cults-tlrftfl<br />
rlifferent<br />
prevlous<br />
re_<br />
i'formatioui we tiave i'erieweo tbe studies.<br />
hetrn<br />
our .rview<br />
limited<br />
has<br />
to the material ln tile pap""s ttrer"selves ancl ilrtl inforrnntiofl<br />
opgd rrt<br />
devel.<br />
'rhe<br />
the strnirrar.<br />
major .ene&rch done. for the two studies wrg contlucteil f,or the<br />
whlch is<br />
fi.rst Btddy<br />
a report on restrrrint systerrr effoeitve""ss anrl irlelutthdta<br />
de'nt<br />
reriJw<br />
cases<br />
of acci_<br />
ln whreh a rreath -oc"u"rea. 'E;sed<br />
o1 tho r."o+r".isil*vei gained<br />
frtnn reviewlnq the reports, it rs tjur vte; ili;t the condrusiorrs r{-'hehed<br />
study<br />
in<br />
have<br />
rJre<br />
to be {rlmo*t enilrely dlscorrnted. in taking thls .nflrnr sirone poeition,<br />
whi.h we hesitnte in rroingsince "eseai"rr in tni;;."a;. ;;d;e g'o g*o"ally<br />
li'eleomed, we hase our co'ncern at ouf ilte vati(tity of the results<br />
major polnts,<br />
on r.wo<br />
ri'irgt, the b&,sie npproaeh of. urring the subjectlve opinlons of four<br />
evaluatlng<br />
emproyoes In<br />
the systems-n8 a jury appronetr.'ig<br />
(l'M.<br />
not valirrated. rn the; *uay,iorr.<br />
t:mFloyeeg wero asi
39<br />
. :<br />
, Seeonflly, a very eritit:al polut ls the fatrt thht the basle dntri is not representative<br />
of ocruprlrtt fattlil:ics.'Ihete itre t\\'o liltjor Foulces r;f rlnta ur-cd ill the<br />
study irntl elrli replesent$ al)I)r(]xirrtatcly oneiarif thr] uun\l-rer of fatlrlities. 'I'he<br />
fit'st soulce is date Jlrorn nlotors lnsurarrce Corprilatirn. lt is lcltotttrtl tlttrt<br />
General Motors attained detuilcd ir.rforuration on as:itltr.uts thrrt \r'ere rclx)rt(id to<br />
tbe lltrt
40<br />
5, A statement ls trtade that lap belt usege le approachlng 467o ln' eurrent<br />
motltrl errs. The only scientilleally structured study thnt we know of thet testg<br />
seat belt usage in etrs with the buzzer-light system was conducted by the fneurance<br />
Institute for Highway Safcty. In this etudy people were observeal sB they<br />
u.setl their cars and it wts found thnt there w&B arr 187o usngr iu ctrs wlth the<br />
brrzzar'-light system and a 1€lp usage ln other ears which was not gtatistlcally<br />
significant, indiehtlng that the truzzer-Iight system dirt not inerefiEe Eeat helt<br />
usflge. tiilllilar stutiies done ln the past by the IIHS lnrlieate thut twice ag many<br />
people stnte they rvear seflt belt8 thfln actually used them when observed drlvlng.<br />
Thus, we find tha interesting sltuation thft people will snbstn.ntially overstate<br />
their usage of rieflt ltelts when asked. We have learned of one other study of<br />
buzzer-light usnge whleh was conducted tn r state silfety inspectton statlon,<br />
Tiris stutly inclieaterl a high percentage of rrsage but it ls doubtful whether sur;h<br />
a study is valid sirrce people worrld undoubtedly have a tenilcncy to use belts and<br />
d.rive mole strfely when approachirrg E Bafety statlon. In a recent ltrushin relxrrt<br />
over orre-half the peolile responding to a mail queetlonnalre lndlcated that they<br />
had defeated thelr buzzer-light systems. In tight ofprior studles, lf such r hlgher<br />
lxrreent adurit deferting a federally required system it can only b€ flBBumed that<br />
the aetual unmber wgs $ubstantlally greater.<br />
0. In light of the data mentlonetl ln Hlint 5, lt ts dlffeult to aceept the estlmate<br />
ln the report that there will be a 50/p usage rate for the '?4 system. ft ls<br />
also quostionable whether a rrrand&tory law woukl raise flre usflge rato lo Tfrtr/,,"<br />
It is lmportrrnt to note that a aurvey ln Australia whlch showed there was a ?Sfa<br />
usage rate ehowed thnt only IB,l5/o of. the drlverg surveyed wore the belt anrl<br />
harness eorreetly, *{ Becond and more recent Aurtralinn study of seriously ln-<br />
Jurerl or killarl people who wore belts demoDstrates that lmproper belt usnge ls<br />
essoeiated wlth inJurles ln crashes- These studieB m{ke the General Md,torg<br />
injury reductlon assumptlonr very quesfionable,<br />
' These pointg regardlng rletatle of tne etuily further eonvlnee uB of Berious<br />
lirultatiorr with the hsele data and Urat the ehidy muet be dlsregarded.<br />
Iret me sf,y th&t, rve hnvo been inforrrred there will lxr l vote nt lZ<br />
otelock, so we &re going to proceed ns rtlridl y rs rrr-e (:fln,<br />
Senator (loorr. I -r'ar]t to say f am clelightid yorr nre rlll Jrere.<br />
Senator lfrn'r'x r:.'I'hank vbrr.<br />
Mr. Fred Secrcslr elecutive vice presiclent, X'ord Motor Co.<br />
You may proceed, srr.<br />
STATEIIENT OF IT,EI} SECREST, SXECUTIVE VICE PRESII}EITT,<br />
I'ORD tt[OT0R C0.; ACC0MPAI{IED BY EEBBERT f,. MTSCE, VICE<br />
PRESIDENT, EIIVIRO]IMEI{IAL ANII SAFSTY ENGTFEERTNS;<br />
r0HI[ C. ECKIIOf,IT, DIBECT0R, AUT0MQTIV.E SAIIETY OEETCE:<br />
<strong>AND</strong> I)ONAf,I) G, trIcGUIGAN, ATTORtr[Ey<br />
_ Mr. Sncrusr. I[r. Chairman, membcrs of t]re committee, my narne - is<br />
Fred Seerest. f am executive vice presiclerrt of no"cl wfoto" bo."<br />
,.Wi.th mc, on.m;r lirSht, fu_:Iu"_k Ir)chhold, our rlutornrrtive s*rfety<br />
drrcetorl on my left, Hertrert }fisch, vic:e lrresident, envirrrnurcntal rrnd<br />
safety c'gineering, *nd on rny far left Dtln McGuigrln. arr attorrrey.<br />
. lve apprecrate this opportunity to revierv Fo'dti views and co-nrllugrons<br />
B,bout restrrint systems, includirrg thtr status of air btr,g<br />
tlevelotrrnent.<br />
I rvint to ernphusize at tlre outsel, that tr'ord's opposition to certnin<br />
slerlfi"c proposals regarcling rr.il bags is not basecl or]i1fliffuler-rce tq ttrr<br />
nee.[ Ior lnrprovc(l ])flssenger restr*rnt systems. Inrleecl, Ford has per_<br />
rorn'lefl Inllcll of the plone(]rtrtg work rlrr rt:straint sy$terns, inelucling<br />
work on ilir l-rass.
41<br />
'we<br />
were the first TT.s. manufocturer to offcr safetv.belts as optional<br />
"q,iiWt.t*, iti""ii" ritt,ri-;;lc1"1;: ftt r0rit, Irorr'l published the.r'.'srtlts<br />
ot lts l)ronenr*E4 urr-|i1[ .,t"u*inpt1tetrt,<br />
ri'ork conclttr,tctl j'int'ly with<br />
EH;;'C)orp. Siiictr than-tinrc, nr|rr:h 'rogr:ess irr rir 6ag technology<br />
h*-il;*r; -r,, t"ia*.Ilrrny-of tlie prlolrlerrrs iir,,ir brg clert'loltnrerrl-sttch ts<br />
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<br />
6rc, inruact rjir sr'nll c6i]cli'r.'. 'r'.lr:t:tio. irr rnrrltiltlt' colltslorts-rvere<br />
iiHt,;rt[lt"l;'iri-;;;iiH*1 b.y r,rrci. ][auy 'f tlr*st: p.irirJer's irpp('al to be<br />
;Til'l:il;;;ij-iji -,iit.tlleir-ith c.'titttiirtg tle'e)opnrent rvork' *lth.ttgh<br />
othors ""i;'il)69;ii".a c'ontinue'l o pnrsent Ilrrsic rliflir:rrlties'<br />
r^-a in inttoduci'g.r'" improved tlr'ee-point belt te-<br />
*t*ittt'*v"'t*i. of thc tvpe now reqiiired lty-(ior-erntrtent sttrndards' fn<br />
igil;-ir;1;ilr,rt ,tt"=t tici't of 8:',1 rnls c,ltip1rt:,1 rvitir,air lngs,trtttl l.3P<br />
fr*ifi i" tf,n'hir,nds oi' users-the firsl; rial-tiorld tt'st' of air llags', In<br />
ifli+ -it f.i.S. *r.r" *ill utilize a cornhitrt:ri lrrp itrrtl slroulrler lrt:lt sYstem<br />
rvith'stultcr intetloclt-a systelll Iit'st plopost'tl to tlte l)cl)rrl'tlne'nt or<br />
'Irarrsporl<br />
^ ltion by l'orcl'<br />
iiiiii=",r"6 refir:cts orrr bclief that the sirrgle rnost importa,nt co1trihrrtiort<br />
ttlt a,rrto manu{actutor citll mirko to ;rrotet:tttrtg vehlc'ls occUlrarrts<br />
irgrrinst irrjrrly or derrth is tq develop |etter rnethods of kee,prng<br />
ihcm within tlte trra,sserrger colnpal'tmerrtl.tlurtn;I-tt cf itsll 11nd or e.lrmlnating<br />
or at ltrnst redrrcingtho e{Ieets o1 the so-cn llttd sccon([ collrgronifi"i-<br />
?*, ti* imluut of ihe occnpauts irgainsb the interior of the<br />
vehicle.<br />
lVe hnver never as$rrmed, however, that any single tlcvice_or any single<br />
design concept would nccessnrily ln the safest and most rrrst-<br />
"t""?i"u,otutlon. Th* l)rrr.posc of bur ei'r'1y wolk on air: bags wns to<br />
**pi"i'*-* *oi*"pi ttrnt ivc t'horrght rrright supplcrrretrt,. not replace lrclt<br />
;;;l;,ril; #st*il*. fn sirnplc t.eims, thc air big was inten4ed to he a<br />
iuit".iot crlslL ptd, to reclr]t'c ilre scveritv of tht: sccontl collisiorr imJrtct<br />
of^r lapbeJted^occuptrnt in frontnl t:ollisions'<br />
As this ltrcord shiws, l'ortl has a wetlth of erxperience in researcht<br />
developmerrt. and tr:stiirg of both helt systetns antl air hag systems.<br />
R"for*'discussing solte of the rrrsrrlts .rf that exptrricnce, Iro.wever, I<br />
rnould lihs to tnli-e a moment to correct any ntisunderstanding that may<br />
exio-t ---Clii"*r. as to ottr'1-rositiorr on l:l lt:laterl rrtatf.er'<br />
Gi tt"*tr cxpress*cl tlat tha insistcneo of Ford rrrtd othert<br />
on ob'igctivitv irr the teit met|ocls to bc ernployed by the figr-clnment<br />
i" oii.r"*itt""nru,rrtlatory trrnssivc rt:straint rlcluiremirnts could irnpede<br />
thc anrlu,rnEld proglruri of otre of our cornpe.litors to tiilier rrp to100,000<br />
ii:ottdi*ot air b'ag'systerns as extra costs olitions on certain of its 1974<br />
modcls. ---'!itc<br />
t'relieve ther,e neetl bo no such corlcern. Our unrlerstantlirlg !s that<br />
thc riew. intcrim tr:st clrilDrnv specifications issrred by tlle NHTS-A- on<br />
Julv 96. 19?3 are based on lirniterl findings that a particular dumn-rY<br />
i*-tig" is an obiective anrl satis{actory divice for use in testilg the<br />
fen-=par ticular inodels that ha,vc been-indeed crrish-tested with dummies<br />
-lV" of that dcsiEn.<br />
rura*"stmitl that the Safety Administration is committeed to<br />
.otta""ii"g f,rlf o",l fair rulernnking before attggglipg to expand the<br />
u"nii.uiio?t of thesa interim specifi-iations, and I-tlinh l1r. trVilson's<br />
td*titoony this morning eonfirnied that point.
42<br />
so -we sce ng'eed,-the'efore, for x'ord to r,eturn to the court of<br />
appeals to challenge thc nerv slracifications.<br />
Let me trrrn 'oir: to a funclaintl'tal srrbjeet*the rclrrtiv* potential<br />
o{ clilferlrrrl lcstrnint q5lstems for r.cclrrcing the nurlller of dlaths re_<br />
srrlting florn tr*lfic nc.cidents.<br />
sr:nator' Iranrnr:.<br />
L,c-t rne say that that concern w&s fl, concern of the<br />
cornm ittcc, as volr t'ell hrrow. -<br />
Mr. Sntlrrr,:si. Yes.<br />
se,nator I lr\nrruq^<br />
Srnd<br />
to that extent, we apprecirrte the fact vou a,re<br />
perrnittirrg thenr to at lerst, go aheacl.<br />
[{r- s'lcin'sr- of corrr',st-', rve w'uld huve 'o intc.est i' ar:ting to intcrfere<br />
with any real-wor'lcl test on thc air bag syste; "" *iiv"Eilr-" *v*tem.,<br />
so lrrrs,as it_is rnude elear, as I r]rirrrc it iias"heen. that the o.pp",ri.al<br />
of the so-t:n,llcrl H.yirricl ff dumnry is rclatetl only to t]t.,n.,i,.,,r., in whicJr<br />
it has I'reen tcsterl. rr sceyns t,r us'a perieirti/;;f;-pt;tl;';;;;;1"".<br />
Ilord lrrrs condricted an exhaustive sturlv_rrsing o ,.u*t *ins analysis<br />
applotreh and clata orr sevcral thousand tcciclentslAt ttre risil of over_<br />
srmp[fvrng a vcry complex s_trtrject, we ]rfl,ve surnnrilrized the r.esrrlts<br />
or LIll$ f$tlrdy lll tlrc nttaclred char't. ft shows tJurt lap Lrnd sholftltlr belt<br />
systerrrs,nl.",cl,ql.rly nrore effective thtn air brss aione in<br />
occupunt<br />
trrreventing<br />
1'atalities-prirrrarilv becunse belts ki.cp ptloplo fr.orrr l,einE<br />
tl*orvrr ont oI thc ca.r'. As r me'tio'ed crrr:ricr, ieslrlrint svstems rrie<br />
1:ll:,,1,to pr:rf'rm. Lwo basi* f.'ctitnrs-keepiirg o"",tpuni* ..ecur.*ry<br />
rryltlun the car drrring crashcs, and r:edueing lhe'ieverity of the oceu_<br />
pant irrrlrtrct rvith tho crrr intirior. t3elt sy--iterrrs pcrfoi""r, ir"tl. i,;;;_<br />
ttons t:ll'eciivclvl air fuag svstcrls-prrr.f6rln-grrly<br />
.tvrlflt orre.,tir ]rags ar.,l still<br />
1\-e nrst (:oilcervcur thern to be-a, suprlrior erash lrrcl-in froDtrrl<br />
co]lisions.<br />
'IJrc.v<br />
tlo not,kee,p occupa,nl;s sec,i"elv in pi,liu,'ir,,'r"unv otlrer:<br />
h.ils 'J' colli_.;i.ns, sueh as side ir'parlts or. ,,oilol.eis. ft's imTroitant t'<br />
recflfi tlrilt firu chances of baing ki]led irr an ar:ciclerrt are firlr tirnes<br />
qleatgr if tho occulru.t is e'ieiied fr:om the ctrr- trrn,' trr*v ol'e it tr*<br />
relniluls lllsrde.<br />
, The strrdv *Lso shows that a combination of front seat air bng-*. ;nnhelfs<br />
antl inter:loclrs provirle"s about the slrne. 1rr:otectiorr as i* pirtli,i,,A<br />
bv tho firll.belt-l974 restr:rint, sy.stcrrr- tr;rilth'cr', ;t it,iii.,nt"- firnt lan-<br />
D()rrs wrilr rnterlo{:l{s wrll $avc abo[t lrs many lives ns will air bafus<br />
alone-Jhat is, air bags without bclts.<br />
,rneidentully'<br />
a strrdv-reported in ,r.ne of 1g?B hy Ga'erar Motors.<br />
whir:h lras hee' r'cftl'red to enrlicr this rnorni'g, a;ipears to ar:rive ad<br />
tii<br />
essentiallv tho srlme concrusio's cven thorr!.i.,<br />
irsccr- c*ff*o"e't<br />
meihorlolbgy.<br />
'l'he'rl<br />
t:,iii'tre no disprrte, we belie.ve, *s to the efiectiveness of lap ancl<br />
sho'lrler bt:lt svstems'whcn they aro worn. ,tctla"r-t rti;eft irt \i"1"";<br />
by I)r. I)onald -Huelkc of the llnivusity ;+-trii;i,^ifii'n*"*Jt}<br />
ror'(rt (icn(rrilt<br />
o, rr"<br />
-Nlotor-s_a.nt[ oilrers, vtrrify lrryonrl qrre.stion t]re lifc_<br />
l:,1:'fl Tll,,e,of,tlre comtrined belt systu*. in Aistrariii, t,igr,*;y r-i"rltJeS<br />
(Ilopllerl alrrrrrst ll{) pcrrr:rrt after it w+rs rcqlilqcl bV inw that trelt<br />
systc'rs llc ryor.n i'cn.s equipped with them, even thorlgl-, o.iv ulro,ii<br />
?0 pcrr:ent.of-the cars norv iri uso in Australin.,;;;d,il;p-*;itf, irrp<br />
and shorrlcler belts.<br />
Thc pri'cipal ndvantage of nir bags is that thev wirl automaticailv<br />
provrcre some plotectron to persons who would othci.wisc be endanscreil.
43<br />
[y their unwi]lingess or t]reir failure to use t]re belt system. fn the<br />
past, most people have in fact not used the lap nnd, prrrticularly, thc<br />
ihorrlder heits ilrovide.d in thcir cars. The aclurijristratiorr hu,s thetleforc<br />
rntrtrds,tedl thri cleve,loptncnt of devices that would provide so-crrllud<br />
"ptrssive" protection, i'cquiring no action by occuparits. I'he justi{ictrtibrr<br />
for tliut coursc of action'must be premised on two assumptions:<br />
1. TIre passivc rcstlrrjrrt rvill aiTorrl sut-rstatrtialiy LIit sttnc tleglr:o<br />
of protection a,s otirer s.ystcrns;<br />
0. 'llt., usage lat,e of -active, i'estraint Bystems sa,nnot be significantly<br />
incraasecl.<br />
trVt: bclieve that neither of these assumptiotls is correet. First, it is<br />
elear tlrat ail tra,gs lr,lotrtl do not 1rr:ovitle irs nrttr:h lrottintilrl for r;ltving<br />
lives and redur:ing injurics ns cotultirtctl tlelt s.ys{.errrs, wlttltt t,hcy a_re<br />
wor:n. Anr'[ sccotr,i, we, aro cortvincxrd tlrrrt thc Arnerit]un prrblic can be<br />
inclutred to weilt the cotnbitrtlcl ltelt s.r'stcnt.<br />
Forcl sulvcys shorv that a,clcling ru belt light rrncl ltu.zztr retnitrder<br />
systern Lo 7972 model vehicles clicl increuse laphelt ttsage from 20 pqlc-ent<br />
to 42 pcrcrtrtt. It lerrrllitrs to btr seeu horv liiglr ilre_uslr,ge rtttt: will<br />
go with the 1{i74 rnodel strrt'ttrr intcr'loclc sysl.etn. lVe believer the rats<br />
will risc substantirrllv. We rn'ill conchrct stutlies to dtlternrine the rate,<br />
lrncl tlro resrri{s will ht: known rvitliin t ftlrv ttttttttlrs, or wii,hill a I'eftr<br />
at, rnosf,.<br />
I,lxlrerienee in Australia antJ elsewhcro inclicates tha't usa'gc rates for<br />
comtrinecl bqilt systcrns cnrt lxr t'aist:il as high as ?5 lrtrltlent-I lrt'litlvo<br />
f herr,rcl 80 pcrccnt earlicr this morrtirrg--{.fv(ln without a starter interloeli.<br />
tJrr,-rrgh lcgislatiorr rc:rltriritrg tltnt l.relts lrtr {astt:necl rt all tinrcs.<br />
Tt shoulcl lio notid that rrroicr ancl mole cortntl'ics at't: rnot'ing torvard<br />
mzr.nclator:v belt rrsagc Jt:gislrrtiotr, r'ltther fhirn trlrvrrrd llassive dcr-iceS<br />
srreh a$ air bttts. To'onr knowleclge, Ii'or{ rvns tfic first-alto ml1lftrcfrrrcl<br />
tq nresi'plblicly f6r State le.sislatiorr lcqliring tftat [e]ts be<br />
br.rr:lrtr:d, rind *e- hollc tlrat tlrc full rveiglrt of lhe Fccleral (iovernrnertt<br />
v'ill inrlerrtl soon be placccl behind that efTort.<br />
As s|qwn on the chnrt, I'orfl estiml,tes thrrt belt systems will save ae<br />
m1,ny livcs as lir bags a'lonc, even if tlte usage rate is onl.y abqrtt 60<br />
I)erlt0IIt. *<br />
fn short. we beJieve that both prernises on which passivc restririrrt<br />
rectuir,:rnents a,r'e ltascrJ rre false] Tn arldition, wc believe the pufulic<br />
irrtn'est rr:rrtrit'cs tlrlrt t thiltl {rrt'tol'he talien irrto account-tJre costs of<br />
rcstrailtt sristcms rela,tive to tlte t'esrtltittg bentfits.<br />
Wrl can. of course, spealr onlv about lrordts eost projections- Out<br />
data rlso jlro',r'tr orr llic c'l-rnlt sltlrir- that the rctnil plitru'trqrrivalent, that<br />
is lhe $uqgested rataij price, rr-itlrottt marlinlt for t:onrpaly ptrrfit. ql,11<br />
flnnt:;lrit'rrir. lrrrg s-ystern wo1'lcl lxl-rrlrolt $215. or r1o1c thn,1 dorrble<br />
that of the 1g?4'mbdel lap nlcl shorrlrlcr 6elt system witl startcr<br />
interlock. ---Iri<br />
,,the.r worcls. the inrlividual who will wear his belts would bo<br />
deplir-t:d lrncler n ilassive S1'stcnr Of tlx: opUtlrl unitV for substantiu,llV<br />
mote proteclon ilrlct at tho lame tirne, woril.l puy *o." than doubft: th"e<br />
n"iT'ur.<br />
bass can provide really effective protection on-lY when used<br />
tosether wilh tapb^elts, not only rvil] the c,ost of the _air bag system be<br />
evtn higher, b.t whatever nclvantirgcs there mnv be to thc concept
4<br />
of nassivitv will be diminished or lost. If indeed you need to buckle<br />
rr. ldpbelt to make air bag efiective, then you can gl.in equivalent protection,<br />
at rnrrch lorver r:dst, simpl5'by buciiling a co*rntrineil trelt syst-em.<br />
We think it worrld rnake emincnt serrse to see wlrat usa,go ra,te can be<br />
nchievecl for the three-point system before taking actio-n that would<br />
recluirt: dropping stanclrrrd equipment belt systems, with tlreir proven<br />
elTectivenesi,^in'Tnnot: of a mucir more costly "ptssivett restrai-nt systenr<br />
thrlt probablv rvontt sfivs lls rnuny lives.<br />
In slliti of these rcservations, Ford is continuing its air bag developmcnt<br />
efl'orts. Without regnrtl to any other consideration, so long as<br />
the ruJe on occupant restraitrt-standarcl 9O8-renrains in its pr:esent<br />
form-that is. rfr+r.ndatins pas$iv(r lestraint-irord must continue its<br />
atternpts to mbet the variilui rcquirements as they bcccune effoctive. fn<br />
acldition. wc lecognize that lir bas systems may be fulthcr irnproved so<br />
that thci'corrlrl l-recort'e n relrs,rtinble a]tcmaiive to belt sviterns for<br />
t,hose carl buycrs who u'e willing nnd tblc to pav the cxtra co,"st involved<br />
for thc courlort flnd corrverrien-i:e they may^olicr, as compnred with a<br />
frrll belt system.<br />
Wc Lbinh people nre goinq to fincl the improved 1974 belt svstems<br />
much easirrr to fasten rnrl nruch more convenient and eornfort*ble to<br />
rvear tha,n rrresent svstems. I'ersonally. f find it hard to believe tlrat<br />
many c&r biryers ryoirlcl lle $'illing to nriv a substant,itr,l price nrcrnium<br />
for lin nir trn"g svritem that will bi'. ltisd stfo. merelv to ai'oid tire minor<br />
ineorrveniencd oI lru.:kling the improved be.lt s.ystems. I{owover, if the<br />
market proyes otlrerwise, we worrld probahl.v ofier air bags ns an<br />
option, althourrh thc _priee_of a low volumo nir trrlg option iiriglrt bo<br />
considcrrrbly }iigher tEan ths estimates shown on oi'r dhart whiih assume<br />
100-percent installution.<br />
fn view of these considerations,_Fordts present air bag development<br />
work is corrcelltrated on advanced enEineiring ratJrer than on in immerliate<br />
production profrrftrn. T!-e rrre ,iccking fo rcso]ve such teehnical<br />
isstres rs leliahilit.y. servicc life, rroise levcls, tbricitv of gases. irnproved<br />
proterltion of n frill ranse of occuprrrrts, the develonment of a ivsrcm<br />
for sr'nller-cflr'$, rin improved diagnostic readiness systern and'lowcr<br />
cost lnd weight ohiectives.<br />
rrr r:otrrilusion, w-e helieve that air bags are not the onlv satisftretorv<br />
fornr of pflssenE(:r restraint, ()r errerl fhe rnost desirnble forrn. Thcii.<br />
principal nclvnrrtngc oyor a full belt system is thnt thc air bass rrrovide<br />
pt'otectio' for people--who will not wear.trelts. \tr'hen worni'hirwever.<br />
helts offer substantially more protection than cnn be proviclcd hv air<br />
bass alone. Air bags c
[The table follows:]<br />
45<br />
:<br />
RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OT DIFFERENT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS (ASSUTIES IOO PERCENT USAGB<br />
R63traint systofi<br />
l. Harn6ss systBm;3.point hsrnEss, with interlftk, for driver Bnd right front passenger;<br />
laD beltg for oiher occtJ0ants-----------<br />
2. Air bsg with lap belts and interltrk (as in systam l) tor front seat occupants; leD bslts<br />
for oth6r occuDants-<br />
3. Air bag only forfront occupdnts; lap belts f0r rear occupants-----<br />
4. Lap belts lorall occupants; int6rlock (as in syttem l) for frontoccupant$_____,.....,.<br />
5. Air bag only for all offlpadts- --<br />
Rolativ6<br />
otfdctlvonEs$ Estimat6d<br />
in Plevonting rotail price<br />
fetelitiB$ squival6nt<br />
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<br />
over those shown for svstdmi 2 snd 3.<br />
Senator l{aRrnn. The difficultv that we find with some of these studies<br />
is that they are rrrade unrlar circumstanees which ftre not reality and<br />
for fhat purfbse f am looking fonvarrl to the continuetl utilization of<br />
therse in a real world contlition, rvhich is not just clesignerl to try to<br />
find the results.<br />
I don't in any wa,y me&n to say that the tr'ord Motor Co. has not been<br />
attcmpting to stimrilnte rerrl accident conditions.<br />
If I can mention iust one itern rvhich cloes concern me. that is that<br />
therc appears io be ileveloping a mood of a contest and cbnfrontation<br />
again-which I statccl earlierl-I hopccl we could got away from-between<br />
so-callecl seatbelt aclvocates aircl air bng advicates. "<br />
- And I dontt really givc a clamn rvhich rvinsl f just want to lrnow how<br />
i1 th9. worlcl you aie going to bring down thc dcrrth toll. And f guess<br />
that that is what voll rrre savinq.<br />
I just hopo thai rvc don't'have people who get themselves into such<br />
fi-xcd positions thnt they fecl that thei- cannot. in any way reverse whfit<br />
thcy previouslv thought might have been the right result.<br />
XTr-. Seonnsi. tt t mighi'respond to that. iSenator Hartke, f eertainlv<br />
agree with your position ihat it is both prernrtnrc ancl unnecessary<br />
to adopt the position that there is on1,1' one devicc; tirrrt it is the<br />
p&ntrcea that is gding to deal with the 37.000 fatalities that now are<br />
ocrrrrlling ea,ch vear to people who are insicle automobiles and crashine.<br />
Oui concern, and'it tornes through hcre-f mcan it to come<br />
thiough-is that. as we understancl 20ti as it is presently written, it<br />
implies a total dedicrrtion to a single r:oncept-namelv, paisivity.<br />
And pcrhaps it is baserl_ on oui anrriysi-s of the Australian experience,<br />
on our o\l,n Surrr(rys, both real rvorld ancl othcrwisc, and on our<br />
engineerirlg rvolk. bnt rve br:lier-e that placing sole leJiance on passivity<br />
is perhaps disconnting b1' an unneccssary rlcgree thc allility and<br />
willingness of people as demonstlrrtert elsewhere in the worlcl to do a<br />
littlc soniethinE for themselycs if indccd .we trv a little hnlrler to induce<br />
them to do it.<br />
That is not to sny thnt a, pa,sgive svstem. air bass or anv other svstem,<br />
should rrot be ir real wor'ld optirin fol those p?iople rrfio prefe.fit.<br />
Senator I{anrrin. Sienator Cook.<br />
t8-O80 0-78--4<br />
I00<br />
l0s<br />
64<br />
64<br />
59<br />
t9o<br />
270<br />
2I5<br />
70<br />
(r)
46<br />
Senator Coor. Mr.. Seerest, f think the-chairman l14ls put his finger<br />
on it. f hope rvc dontt get into t battlrr of cither,/or. But I do have to<br />
qay that what we are really doing is kind of a clcgrer-, of neglcct, excclrt<br />
for ths standards that I hopc will pr.evail in i'074, ancl'ivr,, ciln ccrlpiqty<br />
get rr goocl tcst of it-tihinf thit whrri we are tloing is rclmitting<br />
th*t we ttatt't cottvitrce the Dublir: that thev onsht to brr safetv consciorii<br />
end as a .esull rf o'r addission of ftilure tiren we obviouily ]rave to<br />
find another method.<br />
And to this extent it reallv bothers me that what we nre savjns is<br />
that we hrrve lost this battlc ind therefore we hav. to prrt snecihc Emphasis<br />
orr completo pilssivity. And r must say that thii retlir.y bothers<br />
me.<br />
I notice it in ]Ir. Martenst statement. and f notice vou addressed<br />
yourself to it. Hr: snid ('Ancl lr-hen morc cost is adclr:d to tiiese svsterrrs to<br />
overconre their Present shortcomingFr r have littlc doubt that in production<br />
volume the air lrag mrry even win the cost battle.t,<br />
First, lct rre say r am not int-erestccl in thc cost. r trm into'ested in<br />
safety. R_ut wg aTc going t-o tnlk about it, and. obvi.usly, if thc industry<br />
prcst:nterl it in its first form, tr$ options, then obviouslv the rninuf.t<br />
you offer: an option you olTcr the pricle clilTer:ential.<br />
and to that cxtent l''ish you worrld address yourself to it because,<br />
as you have r think intlicatcd in your statement,if you [fo to trr option<br />
systemr then you are goirrg to increase you. cost liccrrriie vou are not<br />
going to llut it on as a full trrrorluction line item.<br />
And to that extcnt I wisli you would kincl of go over those ligures<br />
for the record at the end of your statement so fb *on get an idea of<br />
what we are talking *bout.<br />
r think the ac.id-ent$ we have seen here are what we wourd all consider:<br />
life-saving act:irlerlts rrs a, r,esujt of air bags. I dontt thinl< therc is<br />
any qrrestion allort{, it. But let's talk rrbout the* autorrrobilcs t}rat have<br />
front-errd coliisions. The.y dontt havc rrll the standards. The air bags do<br />
inflnte, What a'e wo talliing abo't in'epl*ccme't costs? IVhrrt r'e wc<br />
talking about in reinstrrllation costs? Whtrt are we tnlking rbont in<br />
regilrtl to tho reimplerrrcntatitll of that system as wtr talk iibout it ils<br />
a illst factor ?<br />
Recaust: f would like to hear those remarks from you,, too, if f cou]d.<br />
Mr. sncrnsr-. well, senat.r', turning to 'ur .hlr:t"turd loo'kinrr at thc<br />
cost and p_r:icc- cstinrates, price estirnates that we have attach*d itr ttro<br />
rlght-hancl t:olurrr.n the dollar'figurcs shown tlrera aro thc estimates of<br />
the lorrg-term price ()vor an unlontlollerl crrr'. r'rris is a car with no<br />
belts or interlocks or buzzers or air bags or anvthing else.<br />
senator co'n. Yes, b*t yorr considEr thoso'*s neTv prod*ction items.<br />
r\Ir. SncHnsr. Yes.<br />
senator Ltoon. Arentt these cost-effective prices on new pr,ocl'ction<br />
itcms ?<br />
Mr'. sncnnsr. That is correct. And our estimate is that trre harness<br />
system with shoulder hgness, incrti-l,reel for easy movornent, laphelt,<br />
ignition inte'locli and the buzzer rrnd liEht svstemL. * ith lanheltsin all<br />
the seat positions. tdds aborrt gg0 at re[ait t"o the cost of thb 1g65 revel<br />
car with no cquipment at all.<br />
I_f you add ai,r bags to that and keep the lapbelts and the interloek<br />
and sirnply replacr) the shouldcr belts. plarle the air bags onlv in the
47<br />
two front seat positions, driver and front prssengerr the retailer price<br />
on a stanclrlrl t,qrtipmcnt lirrsis lises bv $180 to $270. _<br />
If vou then rlelete the laphelts aricl, of (:oursel the interloek from<br />
the tiro front positions, lea^ving lapbelts as the protection t'r)r rearscat<br />
occrupunts, the value drops to fti215.<br />
That ii a, gtrD l)(:tweelt cu$e 1 and case 3 of somervhere in the range<br />
of $125 assuriiiirg that wc have * staudard cquiptnent *cross-thtr-board<br />
instrrllation.<br />
thc cost *s a limited production option would, of course, be higher.<br />
But. at the strrne tittre, i think that 'r.r<br />
rt perfeetly lirrrsible way, Senator'.'to<br />
tcst thc le$pollse of the market t-o an rrllernate device, if you<br />
wili.<br />
Personallv, I dontt believe-Herb, you may want to comment on<br />
it-thrrt if you loqk clorvn the rottl tucl esnrniric thc potential for cost<br />
redrrc:tiorr or coSt irtcrcastr from further develolrtnenf or rcfinc,ment of<br />
cither qf thc trvo cqrnpctiug st'stems, that tliere is any rcirsonable<br />
chancr: that the cost of tir eflcijtii-e htrrness s-vstem rvith interlock would<br />
rise atrywherc nea,r the lcvel of the (:ost of the nir bag systcm'<br />
I am rrgain lemitrtletl of Austrnliir rvhit:li seemingly-rrtrd I have<br />
heard no iefrrtfttion of this from any of the witncsses or fl,ny of the<br />
Ilatrlers presented-has rernritrcd at. remember. & u$fl,ge rate of ?5 to<br />
bO perc*int without thc iutellottk system, tttttl. thcrefori, at a cost substantially<br />
less than fr90.<br />
Now, we are nof apparently ready to go that far. Eut we wa,nt to<br />
trv the'ilterlock svstt}ir ancl sce rvhat rve fiet for S90 beforc we commit<br />
to"well over,$200.<br />
As to the "rEplacement<br />
replaeement cost eost issue., rssue, Senator Cook, L,ook' f I ca,ntt ca,n't qunntifq qunntr4l fo; to_r<br />
you thc replnce.ment<br />
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,<br />
j'et vet have eiro*gh enouEh e,xpe'ie.'* exper"letl(:e to<br />
"to<br />
measure<br />
Illeasure the tfle frequenll rreqtlellcv orsrrlDur<br />
ti-llt]r:]!i:1".:l<br />
valving YdMllg degrcEs UEITLED of Vr. irancl dcfotnritl-.. But it is clear from the pi<br />
l'(.rrL'r<br />
Prctules<br />
*" ii*t* se"li that it is not insubstantial.<br />
I think perhaps another serious problem is the retrofit question' As<br />
I understanct th-e Arrstrnlian la'rv, they require now tltat when a cnr<br />
orisinally mauufactnred and sold wiihorrt rr lapbelt is resold. when<br />
titft is tiansferred. t]re car must be retrofitted with a ltptrelt, and, of<br />
course. this ofiers I think all ellormouslv efrective 'wa-v to accelerate<br />
the sprenci of u proverr device tltrorrgltont the ctrr population.<br />
Seirtrtor Coon. T,et me give you ariother problenr- Let's stt]' f have a<br />
minor accident on thn ro*rtd but the impact is sufficient to inflate the air<br />
bag svstcm and the nrl is still drivable. It cau be drivetr arvay. Is it<br />
'6ag?"Doesntt'that Eoinq to be a Dractical mattel to drive thtrt rutotnobile with a deflated<br />
represellt rr seriotlsr dangerorrs probletn? Because<br />
afttr tho utilization if air btrgs as rve har-e seen today, obviou-sly'<br />
none of those cirls rvas clriviLrl-'. Norr, rve know thi,t that does<br />
not represent the bigEest 1:ert:ctrtage ttf nccidents on the highrvny.<br />
Norv. if we rre savinE-that the nir fng will not cleflate at the normal<br />
accident. rvhich'rte ktio'tt cfluses a trem-endons amount of broken nrms,<br />
fncial tl'oblems. teeth kttorlked out. trnd so ou and so forth, and vet<br />
the crr-conrleivablv corrltl lrtr ch'iuble, erenrt we_reallv saying thnt with<br />
an irrfl*ted systeni tnd thrltr its dr-rflation thnt that ca,rr even thtlugh it<br />
is mechonictrllv clrivable, is utrdrivable because of tha cleflntecl sy.stem<br />
ancl t]rerefore<br />
-we arc goirrg to ltave to utilize arrcl seliously consider a<br />
greal cleal more potenlial ibr rvrecker service ou the highw-ays ?
48<br />
Mr. Sncnnsr. f clontt know.<br />
senator coox. Tlris is the point rtm tryi'g to malre. r44rat, cloes one<br />
do whcn you aro out on r-I)l-) with the traiiir: lirtt is .", itr*i* j,i i,nrrrc i<br />
{lt lf ,q?," r'e.nrle. yo*r' ca. ch.ivable ancl th* Ixtic,e-ruii-t,;,Co' you<br />
*:i_t_- ]L1; *tt1+ yoy say,.((Yes.".What clo vou db rvith tlrris ilring you<br />
lrave got hanging from the str:r:rirrg cohrrnri ?<br />
Ifr. X[lpc;t_1. Wc]l- Senator', rve rrr-'tually have done very little in evaluaturg<br />
thrs. I worrld say lirst the, ril bags for tlre right fiont anti ccrrrer<br />
li:::t].q1l o:T1q'."t,q,lnba trlv . r{ter their. dclloym*enr woulcl just sag<br />
fl()wn Io tne floor and ilrnt\vontt tre tlre ploblem.<br />
senator c.ori. rtm not worried ab'out ttre p&ssenger. r,m worried<br />
alxrut the clriver.<br />
Mr'- Mrsrur. on the steer:ing rvheel we reailv havenrt evarrrated it. we<br />
rvorrld belicvc. howovep-. thul'tiredesig' *o.j.l ho, ""ai ti.at,-yiir could<br />
accomrn ocla tc th i s sit u r-r t i on a f t er: d e lrlfv nrent.<br />
r thi'lr one of the points yon rve"e ciorniirf to, however, is that with<br />
an; accitlent that is sgvere onougrr to deproi or'oi" troe ii *itt a*plov<br />
all of them, so that the repair costs of l,irttinf it tu"k I'to ;;;i;;';irfconriition<br />
rrgrin lirp r1y trciideni 15ni ;='-<br />
Scnator (loort. It is ri total cost ?<br />
M,r, Mrsqrr fcontin'ing]. Thir"ty-mi]es-an-hour impact and above<br />
woukl srrstain lepair r:ost in totrrl. eich trlmc.<br />
r think the irisulance irrdustiy and Allstate rnsurance in talking<br />
almut tho effe,ct of air hags'pon'the insrrrir'ce rate^s. .whcre<br />
r il]-i;;!,<br />
thev wcre sPeaking rnore ipe,lifically with rellarcl to the nersonal liabil_<br />
tfr portions_ rud all, shoultl inelude in thcir:projection-of late recluetlons<br />
tlso wtrtrt thcv r'voulcl cronsider to bc tlreir cxpelience with regard<br />
to rellrl,Ir costs.<br />
Arirt r worrld liko to just Htld one acklitional point if r mav. senator<br />
rrnr:tlic, .vorr operrecl this heari'g -'*ro npp.o1,i:iotetv-*ilt i"di-.ii"s<br />
you' impatience rvith rcgaltl t'o thii rvjrolc'situatiorr and inclicatcE<br />
1_s,*"1*<br />
of.urgcnr:y. And I thjnlr onc of the points we are trying to<br />
malie hcrc is we agree rviih the sen:e of urgencyl anri it is for thai rcason<br />
tlrat we nrc quite concelnecl nhout the fi"esdrit requirerne't hanging<br />
oycr the total inclustry's hcrrds that we'must, by d clate have tofitti<br />
passivc systems.<br />
rt Rs m.ch ils says anvthing vou're workinq on that cloes not have<br />
aT opportnnitv to meet the passiye system possibilitV is reallV a, wrste<br />
oJ tir'e anrl vorr .sho.uldntt bc rr-.r'king on'it ancl, flrther tirarr that,<br />
thc point was rrrarlc that vou have to consitler tJre aicl that anv of thesc<br />
systems will give us with regar.cl to raclncing the total fatalitv rtumber<br />
or inirrry nnnrber on the hasis of the rate at which it can becomc cfiestive<br />
in replarting Ihe poprrlatitln of vehicles.<br />
Norv, #e have cars now that are cquippcd with scatlnlts. 'w'e have<br />
lott:--a abont the possibilitv of trying to increase thcir usnse through<br />
legislation-l,rul all. J.f ne iontirnie tij sny soathelts arc onli an intJrmctlin,fe<br />
solrrtion nnd arrr rea,lly going to So awa,y ancl irs lone. as eyeryone,<br />
r'e,sists their usaEe. evcrvone resists legislai:ion for theil".,=n, nrrd<br />
so forth, on the ground that there is a panacetr rlown the roacl, tlren<br />
any real,improverrrent is qo.ing to take ],riryer. I think it's going'to do<br />
irryparable_lrarrn to sa_tisfving r.our rcaI irirportant desires.'<br />
Senrrtor Hanrrir:. \Ite lrave li vote corni'g n]r. Let rne irrst make a<br />
comrnent. rrere is why r find criticism with thc bieness of tho motor
49<br />
industrv and the inflexibilitv of the bureaucracy and why I oppose<br />
trr-ing 'nu[ io write thinErs into Iegislation.<br />
f scc if yo* rriia]rt: the ilssurnptionl, q]rlch.T think is right, that<br />
th; bi;.;;;;t"*y l" Washingto' is ,'so i'flbxible that it canttot change<br />
ii-.r'tiri"a,'ittut It rrbsolurt.lrjsitYs yotl have to go to ptssive restlrrint,<br />
as tttur.,lt'tts f am cotrt:clnccl *ith"that f arrr also t:oricer'netl rvith this<br />
;ri;-o] i,,,ti-i".rtin rvhich exist,s in our American societv that rve trb-<br />
*olot*lf- Itn,-e bccortte so pariruoid_ in orrr opet'ntion that we no longer<br />
really ir"e Con,,,lrncd witlr saft:tr- but rve ill'c con(lel'ncd wrtlr lrow you<br />
irlfi=lu ltll tiirt*i.r:ot*, Ii-olcl, rrird Ohlysltrr, and Gt:nt:ral Motors, and<br />
tho , ltrircancltrls in IVashington, D.C.<br />
if;u' ttitt * got to lle willing to f;! 1l-regrl<br />
and modify it. ff vou haller fr-ot<br />
a,noilrcr pr.fr"n- to .o,ti* rTp urT.t it ttr* DOT and ih* Notiott,rl Highivav<br />
S*rfi,tya*.hat*r.er thrrt^ .'tfit is; I rr*-c' co\rld say their nnmeif<br />
ih;; ur{i so inflcsiSle thtrt they cflnrrot rccoguizc a {evice<br />
which is<br />
*tir*'tnr.tnrcl ililcl procluce safer arrtomobiles. then f sily \re h&ve<br />
Fl".uiia o, tttili'..t,,r of 'ur,r. orvn lvhich absolutely oug'lr]to.bc somewhat<br />
chanEed antl You ougltt to help chtrrgc that'- '\nd I t'ill say I will<br />
guarilutet: yoir thnt ?ven the firesidtlirts of each onq oj your comnanieS<br />
gr:t inad rt tlrtlir own brrrl'rrncrrr(ty 90 p0rTr.ut ot the tlme.<br />
^<br />
IVe aie, in recess. I rvill [ie, rig]rt back. Thanli y.rr, gentleuren'<br />
IRecess.]<br />
Sc'atoi Ha*,r'nn. 1'1e next witness will be Mr. Ernest Stadrmnn,<br />
ui"" llii-"i.f"'nt, cttvilotttnent*l actir-ities slrrlf, ancl.Mr'<br />
.Lguis-Lund-<br />
*ftnni. executive director, environmental activities steffr Getreral<br />
Motors Corp.<br />
STATEMENI0FERNESTSTAEKMAN,vIcEPRESIDENTFoRGEN.<br />
EBAI MOTOBS ENVIB0NMENTAI ACTMTIES STAFI; ACC0M'<br />
PANTED BY lours c. luNDsTRoM, ExEcuTrvE DIRECTOR'<br />
ENVIRONMENTAI ACTIVITIES STAFF: DAVID MABTIN' DIREC-<br />
TOR 0r'AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY ENGINEERING; <strong>AND</strong> OHABLES<br />
srraRP, IEGAI srAFF<br />
I{r. SreRxrtew. Mr. Chairmf,n' my name, is Ernest $tarkman, and<br />
f ttn vicc president for Geneltrl ]iotors environmc:ntal activities stafr.<br />
witl-, ,,,.r,r i:6drry are Louis Lunclstronr, rvho sits gr] rny right 1.on rny ia1<br />
riEht, D[rir] Xfar.tin. direetor of automotive safety englrcer'ing of that<br />
saine staft; flnd orr rrv left is Mr'. Charles Shar'p of our' logal sitrff.<br />
Wo ar,c'plcasecl to be here today to cotntnent ort Genernl Motorst<br />
prolfram to'llhasc in tho air cushion sysiern. General Motols first ilnirou*tl,:*.1<br />
tlrt'ilevclopment of srrch systern in 19?0.<br />
I s'ill st'art by revitr$'irrg thc iurr:ent status of our program, nnd<br />
Mr. l,unclstrottt,"u'lto htrs becn itr chalge of thc corportt,tionts automotive<br />
safety program fol tnlttry ]'llllllstlti[ th"t't prcstl+t a re.llol't otr the<br />
results to"clirte'itf o,rr proglnirirvhich wc believe will be of irrterest to<br />
thc comrnittee.<br />
At the tirne rve receivccl llr:. Magnrtson's letter inviting uS to trppear<br />
at this hea,r.ing, orrr' lrlan to intlocftice, orr alr optional basis_..air cushioneqrrippet,l<br />
19?4'inocte'l crrrs lurfl bcen delayed, a,s rve-_htcl eallicl inforrned<br />
Si""*io"v t1,i1cgar. 1\'e relrr:ta1t-ly ilerrtilr.tl that desisiotr 1ot be-<br />
"n'.,r* **. dicl not''rvish to Offel' thc iystem an option but because the
50<br />
spec.iffeations-for the test dummyo which is the, device we must u$e to<br />
celtifr- compliance of thc air cirshion with the pa$sive .n*ii"l"t ,._<br />
qurrernents of snfety stancla,rcl 208. were not settled. The srrecificalions<br />
werc strll rn the forrn of n proposnl bv the IIIHTSA.<br />
- while we had somc t'r,,isorito helievo that firial specifications would<br />
be is.sued around Arrgust 1, there rvas still the quesiion of wrreiner ttre<br />
test' clummies wc have.been using rnlquld be iri ag"ee,m"rf ""a, -.-;""<br />
t-I,T'<br />
ryhgther th c speeifi eation s #oultt lr* r"b=,a iiE"i il.".r-* rl""ge cl by<br />
otllers in the courts. Beca'se of these risks, we dirl not feel the rJquireh<br />
substantial commitrnont of rcsou'ces wrls walr,anted at that time.<br />
. As of to$ay, havirrg carefully stuclierl the final trist clummrrspecificatlons<br />
rust iss.ed by NrITsA. we are pleased to repo.t thal oirr dummres<br />
seem to lre in sufficient agreemelt. Thus, the only questiorr still<br />
present is whether arry lega1 rlCtiolr ivill be taken bv scirrrdnn* to chal_<br />
lenge these spe..ifieatiirns. this possibilitv doas e*isi, a"a *o ilno* or<br />
no r4-rry that this risk can rlefinitivelv be disposed of. Thus. we have no<br />
&s$urance, that once startcd the program will not have to iro hnlied at<br />
some arbitrarv point irr the prodirr:tion scheclule.<br />
_ Ncvcrtheless. despite the-fam that rve stilr faee this possibility, we<br />
fl-r'e prepRrfld to bcgin prothrr:tion_of the _systems to lx+^ofrered as opt'ronal<br />
eqrrrpment on sorne of o*r 1974 model cars jrrst rr$ soorr o,s porrihle.<br />
H^opefully, erren if the-spc.cifications arei chailengctl, the I{,HTSA<br />
wrll lind means that v'ill *llow this program to piocced to its<br />
conclusion.<br />
JVe have decitled to move because we need the additional exnerience,<br />
both in urtnufactrlling and irr cLrstorner service, that onlv lsuch<br />
progralns will provicle. ]rrrch more experience will bo'r'equired'before<br />
we have g-lo'gh inforrnation to precliit reliably how the air cushion<br />
rrr ll perform irr<br />
:{:ll,1l<br />
trctual rsc unde' t broad-specrnrrn of operating<br />
cotlctrttons.<br />
our intent still is fo_r^lil euslrion svstems to he available as optional<br />
cquip_melt d*ring thc 1974 moclel veu" on the B*ick nt**it" o"h Rl"iera.<br />
the oldsrnobiltl'(98," tho Toronaclo. and most cudiliac moclets.<br />
The air e'shiorrs can bo offered in thesc cars only after thev have<br />
lroen testerl with dummics r'eeting thc ncw sirecificlti'ns. This m'st<br />
lle clone in ordcr to bc able to certifv that thev are in comptiarice with<br />
the. p.assive rastr*i't option of motor vehicle snfety ri'""Jota zog.<br />
This is an extensive testing program involving fr:ontal brlrriel'ilrashes<br />
at 30 mi/h' angula,r impaiti at B0 mi/h, and laternl moving lrnrrier<br />
erashes nt 20 mi/h.<br />
Additional tests are- also reqrrirecl nt speetrs berow that for air<br />
cush,ion cleplo.vment. The time rr-ecessalv to comprete sueh testing- *i1l<br />
lre about 2 to 3 months, assuming no unforeseen irroblerns arise.<br />
Senafor lTenrnrr. Let me say that f am glad yor, a,"cllloving io"ward<br />
with this progrrim, but r thinlr it denron.strates again the stiiement r<br />
trtnde._ [ 'irrst cannot seo how in tlre world we cfln hn,vc so mrreh burcaucracy<br />
tierl down to anv real change to gct somc t.yprr of "estraint system<br />
which worlrs.<br />
- rTere 1'on have a system where you have the Natjonal Traffie safety<br />
tloanl putting ont a specifiention on restrnirrts, nncl hcre you fll,e (:om_<br />
in_q forwarcl rvith rrrr itlea which vou think might solve the problem.<br />
Then 'iye are frrced rvith the possibilitv of lawsuits, you say,'which f
51<br />
understand now m&y be out of the wf,y, but you a,re faced with the<br />
possibility of a larvsirit, 's-hit:lnvorrkl pi'rividc tltnt becausc of the fact<br />
that you haventt nrct thu lerluireurents llut dorvn by tlrc ltnreaucraey<br />
that vou couldntt proceetl rvith something else, rvhich mighl itr your'<br />
opinion - come forltirrd with rr better solution to ir very seveie plolilem.<br />
I have to admit that it ta,kes onlv tr, bursaucratic rnind to create such<br />
a jungle.<br />
Absolrrtely, f mcan the only peopla that, I crrn see making any moncy<br />
out of that proposition or doing any good for them is us le,wyers.<br />
Go aherd.<br />
Mr. Sr:nnxuaw. Thc arrtngements for acturrl large-scale produetion<br />
of the cornponents nncl assernblv of this uniclne sy$tcn] tlust also be<br />
institutecl. Jlhis inclrrtlcs cornp()nent fnlrlication, air cushiou tnodule<br />
asserublv and clistlilrrrtion rucl sclreduling itr the crr assenrbly plants.<br />
Assurniirs thc test lesrrlts trrrr frlvorahle. ii is rroneeivilble thatihis will<br />
pcrmit sales of 1974 plorluctjon cars rvith optional prssive air cushions<br />
tlrorrnd the first of the verrr.<br />
While we havr: not yet dccided on the manufacturerts suggested retail<br />
price for this optiorr on 1974 ruodcls, our culleltt thinking is ihnt it<br />
ivilI be in the ri'ea of about $l(){-}. If thc front ltrp}relts aie also pur<br />
chtrsed, tlre plice rvould be trlnrrt $2ir additionrul. You rnight be iriterestcd<br />
to knoiv that the t:oslr of rler-elopmtnt rvork on the s\i.stcttr in 1t)71<br />
ln
52<br />
Senator lfanrsn. Cov_er them, will you ? f don't want to repear<br />
sotncrthing wc ]ravc hcrrrd.<br />
Mr' sr,cnxlrarv. 'wq also have with us, parkccr on constit,tion Avenrte,<br />
two oJ that 1.000-cal Chevrolet air"^cushion flcct. We woulcl be<br />
pleasqcl to slrou,. llresc to vou at the end of onr testinronv.<br />
a, Itr1llrcr ofltho<br />
.,<br />
members of yoru committee havc *,Irea,rlv driven<br />
tllesc cill's.<br />
scna'tor rr,rnrnn. r don't mind driving one. How about full time?<br />
Can vott lluv them ?<br />
- NIi. srenirrrnx. IVe should be able to sell you one around January 1,<br />
Mr. Chairrrrn,n.<br />
Senator Fl.rnrxr. What if I got lrilled betweon now anrl then?<br />
Mr. Sr.trrrirlary. Wcl .rvoulri nlorrr'n. nIr. Chairman.<br />
sena't'r: rT,rnr*n. JVill vo. d. s'm-ething for mc then? rf that happen5a,nd,<br />
you knorv,.it might be a trlessing to all of you-bnt lct nlre<br />
sfl.y lt thnt hnpl)e[s wrll you crcrlt r]. monrrment to the urrknown automohllc<br />
yrctrm !<br />
Mr. Sr.lnnu,rrir. Perhaps there should be.<br />
sentr,tor Iranlrrn. Thcre are nore ol'these being kilted than there are<br />
in the war even.<br />
Mr. Sr'.nnnlrall. Yes. sir.<br />
sonr.tor rrenrrrn, we nright as well hRve a monument and th*t will<br />
be sulficicnt, you knol, just a rnonurncrrt to tho unknowri,'rtomobilc<br />
vlctlrn.<br />
All right. Go right ahead.<br />
Mr'. Srnnnu,rx.-f worrkl like to introduce-<br />
Scnttor rr'tR'r'nn. Let me ask you a question. Are your technicians<br />
herc ?<br />
Mr, Sr.rnrrue.w. Mr. T,undstrom ancl Mr. Martin are both-<br />
Senator l'fnnrnr. Why_dontt rve Jrave roll bars throrrgh thc en,rs?<br />
rs thcre,any, l'cll$on<br />
5-hy<br />
the.y clon't? .l)o_yorr knorv what r am talking<br />
about ? You knorv, where thc: crrr ordinur"ily has rr fr:ont and Lrack tloor'-I<br />
at lcast it has rrt the back whele the seats comc together-rvhv couldntt<br />
y_orr iust Fut n, roll ba,r thro'gh t,hcl. insicle, liac it unclei s()rne of<br />
that chrome-ol f mean sonle of that naint ?<br />
Mr'. ITuNDS'rrtor,l. The crrr: st,Lut:trrre, is built with sufficicnt strength<br />
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.<br />
ur:ciclent. lfhcre lfhc_re lfhcre *.r,e *r'e allrrvsltu.r*.tiilv<br />
ahvrrys unusua rutlsuallv<br />
se,v()r'e<br />
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<br />
is a-tlequate for nlmost all conriitions today.<br />
Scnn,tor lf,l.n.rnn. For a roll ?<br />
Mr. Lurqns'rrrorr. Correct.<br />
s*nntor rr.q.rt'rrin. JVouldn't thtrt also eontribute if you hnd that in<br />
thore though, that sidc panclirrg? -r_hav. lookccl at ali'tliose cars, and<br />
cv(lrv (lnc of thern u'ont, you kno*, likc prrller rnache.<br />
_ Mr. r,rrmusrrtr)rr. Agai' the sicle strrrctrire of cars has been imnrovcd<br />
by silengtheuing the.pillals, the loclr stnrcture ancr the side'gu*rd<br />
beam so there is considcrnble weiglrt and sttength truilt in theia and<br />
tvpicallv hiclilcn frr)rn vrew.<br />
se'ator lrnnrnn. Arc thosc the result of standards set forth by<br />
whate,yer that n.eencv is ?<br />
Mr- Luxnsrnou. .ihe sidc str.et're cftme ahorrt as a vor.nta.v effort<br />
by GM initially. The loclr c*mr: i' ma'y yerrrs ago. Thc hi'fes and
58<br />
locks now as well as the side strengths are matters of Federal<br />
standards.<br />
Senator lflnrxn. Fine. OK.<br />
I trrlliccl to Senrtor' (]ook nbout this when we left here, and I dontt<br />
think it is possiblc really fot us probably to dlaft-that type-of -legislatiou<br />
rvhi[h would re,clrrircr nll se'.ltlre.Its to be.-J\re can drtrft the<br />
Iccislatiorr trut,Irr: thinkd it has a cottstitutional inhihition. He thinks<br />
mirl'be rvc ought to drrr'ft tttle for tho l)istrict of Columbia and force<br />
therrt to use it here. IVe liervc jurisdir:tion here vet.<br />
I thought maybe I had better cttt'r'cct thc record on that point.<br />
All right. Prrrcced.<br />
Mr. Sr,rnnmnx. I would like to ask Mr. Lundstrom then to proceed<br />
with a nresentatiol of thosc lcrnaining cilctrmstances in rvhicfu air<br />
bags rlrrpllyed a1d then to provide some other ligurcs. It shouldltt<br />
take too lonq.<br />
Senator ITrrntnp. Let me say again f am glad you are proceeding<br />
with this proffrarn. and to thc cxtent that I * b* helpfuUn lieeping<br />
that progiam-going, rvith keepilrg you out of litigation, f want you<br />
to know I arn comrnitted to clo that.<br />
Mr. Smnrirrlu. Thanh you.<br />
Mr. Lunnsrxou. It is a tnatter of record that General Motors has<br />
actively srrppoltecl the plogram of the Safety Acl_ministratiolr with<br />
..g-ot,i'to p,risit* rcstraiirts.-1)ilrticularly in the development of the air<br />
cusnlon.<br />
In the course of this progra,m we have, during the past B yeartt<br />
slptrlied elgineelinE [ari\vare to rl*I{TSA rv]ticfu rvas utilized in two<br />
srrcclssful a'i'r crrshiln lttrtrtttt voluuteel l)r'()gr'[lns. We also have devr:lopecl<br />
tlo succtssivcr generutions of tlic a-ir (rlrshion sysletu in the<br />
cour'se of imrrror-i lrE its llerforlll itllce'<br />
ft is this.sec.,,nd*genelrrtion slstem that has been installed in our<br />
GII {ickl tcst of 1,0d0 19?B Chcvi'olcts.<br />
'I'his is t}re Iirst retl-life usage<br />
of fullv passive friont serrt lestltittts in autorrrobile histoly. ISlicle'].<br />
The"filoO (iM c;rrs u'ith rrir cushions IIor\-tlr use al'c gll-rlrg ns the<br />
first ind.ictltion of tht',ir pclformtnce in irrtutl tulcitlcnt situtrtions.<br />
Althoush this number of irrrs is too sttrall ftlr stntistical surveys, their<br />
field rlcrifountrllce whcrn cc'rrrrlli'cd rvith 1t'er-ious slcd a'{ barrier tests<br />
rvc hirve contlrrr1tr:tl u'ill fulthcr our corrfirlcuce in thtl systcrn ot'point<br />
uD 'O+ anv Dossil)le we&kncsses tltrrtlvould rctluile correction.<br />
initiat iurtrortance is the fact that rriricushions have not inflated<br />
in 151 rninor<br />
'!Ye<br />
adciclent,s. are. then. more cottlidt:ut that the sensors<br />
will not deplov ^ ' the air cushions in trivial accidents.<br />
ISlide.]<br />
This pist .$atuldrry aftetnoon, July 26, at 2 r.30 p.m'' -tirc eighth and<br />
most receut accident deployurelt took- lrlace. The uir cushion cu,r'carryins<br />
ser-en peoplc-three irr tlu: front seat irtcluding in 1J.-ycar-old troyttiis<br />
strucli he-ad on in a blincl culr-r'lry a .ll]72 Chevrolet Impaln strttion<br />
wftgorl. lrnpnct slreed rvas just severe enough to activnto the air<br />
cusill0ns.<br />
Only superficial injuries were received by occupants of the air<br />
cuslrlon cilr,<br />
Wlr nre in the proeess of reviewiug nccidents similar to the air cushiorr<br />
cleployrnents*in our' field test brit in rvhic| the occupants were in
E4<br />
sttr,g{ard,prodnction cars.- At this timo it appears that most of the<br />
c'shr(xr<br />
air<br />
deploy're't acciclents were rrrt sriificie.ntlv i*o"i* * t. r:orrclude<br />
how rnuch lrrntct:tion the rrir crrshiorr rnav hlrve Dr'vided.<br />
rD the in-sfant:e of t],r: \rallcv I'arrr, Mo., aecifii:nt it. ilc lrtlierccl<br />
the<br />
thflt<br />
two girls did'ecervc $rgnrrrcrnr rrerrefii. It i;i;;;r;r.-t"rrit}i*r, to .,0_<br />
!.ognize that rrrrrt:h more ficld eviclence witt-rre ;;,i;ir*i-i; cst16lis1<br />
thc overall eflcc:tivencss of air r.rushions.<br />
ISlidc.l<br />
rn adclit'ion to the eight accidents severe enough to nctivato the air<br />
11s11;gns.j\e {get }gs }ihd .151 less $cvc'e ;*l;,#,1r,;;,i"i ,."Uif_"t_<br />
ot<br />
,n*<br />
Julv ?8 in 12 milli'n rniles of operation, irr rvhich the ailcushio's<br />
*:,':.1"*^ll*:tl?Ill'T-d.ittleed<br />
rlid ,,;f,;;i;]"J. it;;;, ;;;;;no si[nin"unt<br />
tniuries in thesc accidents.<br />
ISlide.]<br />
Thero has been one_inadvertent deplovmennt. rt oeenrreri late in<br />
eveni'g<br />
the<br />
on Juno rB. 'rhe car w*s triveli'g -t;;; il'-i; jo<br />
,iyt o' u<br />
str-ajg]!t,levol road in towell, Mass.<br />
ISlitle.l<br />
,,<br />
Only the passenger_cushion inflatcd, resulted in minor iniurv to<br />
rr)e wornflrr ocr:rrDnnt.<br />
'fhtl<br />
'we nrrtle clriver maintnined control of ihe"c;<br />
h've not rletcrmir"a *ttir' "*"iui"iy *h ;r, ;;,;;;i-iri,iinacl'ertg'lcJ..This<br />
is under intensive strrdy. we aie investig.ti,-,g-tli*, possibilrty<br />
ot fl, nrettunctrorr of one of the system cornponenfs or the pmsibility<br />
tltat sorne othcr ftrctol may htvc beien thc cnusc.<br />
overall, wc thus fnr nie pleasecl with the r-esuits of the field trial<br />
progr:arr), because it has shown us some initial sr,.rcess *hil* poi"ilng<br />
olt ir,rcas of prssible wcalrrress that rnav neecl rnrrection 'rir-rriirei<br />
elaboration on t:lre ficlcl trinl progltnr rrnri technjcal details of orrr nir<br />
eushion syslcrn trrc corrtained iri thrcc papers deliyerecl at tlre GM<br />
satet-,y semlnrrr rn June. with thc chairmtrnts per.rnission, we would like<br />
to submit thcsc for the recor,d.l<br />
ISlide.l<br />
^;!.'ring<br />
now to tho overall important qu-gstion of restraint system<br />
efiectryeness. we lrave. atternptccl.to rrtilize field ctata lrrd our eipc,ri_<br />
glce !n testing, to stud.y the c:h'cctive'ess of ttt,iai n"t*rii "*ri,*itrt *.,tnnatrons,tlrnt<br />
may<br />
,bc<br />
used in thc nrrirr futrrre. The resulting preclietrons<br />
of their pot_errtial lifesaving capability took on such imirortnnce<br />
lllnt,*?Presentccl<br />
trree addi{ional tcchnical papers on t}ris sribject at<br />
tlrjt]<br />
lll.L\t<br />
safett, seminar. Ag+rin, Ml. Chairrnan,-we rvould like tb sub_<br />
mrt thr:se pirpcls fol the record."<br />
A hlief-review of thcir. main points.is important to - your unclcrstanding<br />
r ' '-<br />
of our current position orirestr*int svJterns.<br />
Islidi.t<br />
. !q tegin.with, fntal aecidonts oecurring from 1g6? to 1g?Z wcre<br />
strrlrecl to deternirre whic]r frr,talities might haye been avoidctl by<br />
using various restraint svsterns.<br />
^ 4<br />
jqy of f"oyr,cngirieers, experieneecl in the design, develolrmenr,<br />
nncl tcstlrrg of both -rlqtiye antl l.rnssive systems! .rvn.s selcctecl.-Thc,se<br />
rollr techrllcnllv qnalrlrcrl.pelsons tnalyzed ?06 fatal accident cases,<br />
evaluutin$ thorn on thc basii of foul restrlaint systcms ;<br />
fSlicle.l<br />
r $ee pp, ?8-89.<br />
! Sce I)p. 101-167.
55<br />
Lapbelt, lap-shoulder belt, air cushion, and air cushion plus lapbelt.<br />
il'lrc ?06 cascs were dra'rvn f rorn the nine sources shown here.<br />
ISIide.]<br />
Our jurv a,ssumed that the belts and air sushions would perform<br />
at optimurn. I'hev also took into irccount the physicnl t:hrLlac;teristics<br />
of the persorl rurd arly uniquc characrteristics of the accident that might<br />
affcct restraint svstem effectiveness.<br />
We, r'ealize that this study itrvolves subjective judgmcnts and that<br />
others mav arrive at $orncrvhat rlillerent conclusions. Whilc the study<br />
carrnot hc cxtcndecl to renl life siturrtions with al.rsolutc certaintv we<br />
btrlit:vtl that it is a gcrrtilnl indimrtirin of rcstraint systern efrectiveness<br />
which rvc rvnnted to bring to your attention.<br />
IS1ide.]<br />
This is arr examplc of one case in the stuclv.<br />
A 7972 Chcvrolct frrrpnln rear'-ended a parked c&r a,t an estimated<br />
?0 mi/h. The 49-year-olh male driver sufidred e ruptured eortfl. from<br />
chest irnpact lvith t,hc steer:ing system even though it did compress<br />
3.5 inches during impact.<br />
ISlide.]<br />
Our iurv decided that if the driver had worn a lapbelt, he would<br />
have had an estimtrted 60 lrelccnt chancc of survival.<br />
A lap-shoulcler belt or-ail crrshions woulcl havc kept him ofi the<br />
stcet'iug rvhccl for an estirnated 90 perccut chance of survival. The accitlent<br />
rvns too scvorc to predict 100 percent chance of survival. This<br />
is the wav crach of ther ?06 fatal ncciclent c&ses rvas analvzed.<br />
This stirtlv t:onfirrnccl an old estimate.<br />
[Slicte.] -<br />
An cstimntetl 46 percent of the fatalities had no chanee for survival<br />
with the four restluirrt systems consiclerecl trecausc the accidcnts were<br />
too severe or too unusua,l.<br />
ISlide.]<br />
ITrlre are two tvpical exftmples where restrflints were but the<br />
occupants died. Thrr first verhicle skiddcd sideways into a Islide]<br />
the serlond went undemcath a tntck.<br />
\Yhrrn thc crrse stuclies rvere complcted, our jury made this overall<br />
juclgrnent;<br />
lSlide.'l 'lhe person who rvears his lapbelt has a potential for fatality<br />
redrrctiori'of L?'perccnt, and rvhen hc tdcls liis shoirlcler belt, his poteritial<br />
incrense to 31 perccnt. In n vehir:le 'w'ibh an air cnshion, his potcntial<br />
for futality reduction is 18 pelcerit. Rut if he should add a lapbelt<br />
and alwav-s wears it, his fatrlitv reclrrction potential increases to<br />
29 percent. iirese estimates ilr'e, of course, subiect to refinement as<br />
more, evideJrcre becomes avtrilable.<br />
Taking this strrtlv as u starting point, we then attempted to assess<br />
the value, of each rcstlairrt on n riational scllc assuming everv vehicle<br />
on the rorrrl 'lvrrs t:quippecl rritlr tlrtr ltat'ticula,r lestrrrillt nnclel study<br />
but, itr tddition, consiililling fnr:tot's ils u$ilp{e tnte, cspecinllv for belts.<br />
This is difficult"to clo bccnrise such rtsose ci'n onlv bcl estirnated' Also,<br />
we exten
56<br />
., [Slide.] Letls<br />
!9grn with the belt restraint group, keeping in mind<br />
that our datn rndrcatcs 46 perccnt of occupant faialities are in nonsurvivable<br />
accidcnts.<br />
First,<br />
-1974.Iap-shoulder belts with interloek: Assuming 50 pereent<br />
usage,4,600 lives estirnated to be srrved.<br />
seconcl, lLIr-sho'lcler belts pl's ma'datory belt-rrse regurrrtions: Assrrming<br />
the ?5 percent usage expericncerl in'Australia,rioo cstimated<br />
lives sived.<br />
Now let's trrrn to air cushion configurations.<br />
[siidc.l First, front ai. cushion lind raar laphelts assuming bert<br />
ttsage r*tes of 23 percent-the estimated nsagc-rate, beforc *oilttJng<br />
systcms werc instnjled: 6,050 estimatecl lives sir,ved.<br />
Second,, air enshion^<br />
{1;o^nt, lapbelts front and rear assuming ZB percent<br />
belt-usage rate : 6.i150 cstinrntccl lives saved.<br />
, . Thirrl, air cushion f'ont plus lapbelts all around that have a scqrrentlat<br />
.'vilr'nlrrq s.TSJ.cm to rncreflse front seat Iapbelt usage to 65 percent;<br />
8,450 estrmatecl Jives saved..<br />
rt is of interest to note that as o'r 1g?4 optional air cushions prognrm<br />
moves into production that General Moior customers will ha've a<br />
chorce among tlrree front seat rcstnrint svstems: The lan-slroulder belt<br />
system with star"ter-intcrlock. which wiil hc standard c'quipment; the<br />
o-pti_onnl air.nshion with lapbclts; or the optional air cirshion oniv if<br />
the lapbelts rrre deletect.<br />
To iummarizc briefly,<br />
l"t:". quote from a portion of the letter Mr.<br />
Cole, presirlent, of Genir:al lfotorb, recentlv s"irt to S;;tn".y B"in"gnr<br />
our sturlies have lndicatetl that all three choices (alr cushions, air cushions<br />
with lftIrl)elts, n.nd the eorrthinecl la]r/shoulder trelt wlth ir. stftrtrlr interloch) will<br />
yield Er sulrstantial rerluctio! in our highwa.y deflths nnd injuries. It al;pcnrs that<br />
the Primnry a.dvantage of the air cushion is that of r:onvenience, but'dxperienee<br />
mfly prove that equal or be-tter proteetion may he providerl wiilr other systems or<br />
tr comllinfltion of systems.<br />
'Ihus, a tlela.y in the mandetory r.jqrrirerlent for passive<br />
restraints would appear to be in the lnrblic intcrest,<br />
.-I,n cgnqt1r3ion, we qre pleascd to a,nnounce our plans to move ahead<br />
with the 1974 air cushion options. our field tesf program continues to<br />
give ns the experierree we v_ilallv neecl but, as we poinftcl out, the results<br />
rnrrst not he nrisinterpretcd rnd air cushion pcrf-ormance *reaitea *itt<br />
more tlran it actuallv accomnlishccl.<br />
_<br />
Fin*lly, with savbr:nl rcsiraint alternatives becoming availablc to<br />
the public-e a-tlh with. s rrbst rr'tial inj.ry red.ctio' *opufiilitv*& posrponement<br />
of t:he requirenrent for mintlatory passive iestrai""ts wtuta<br />
eppear to be in thc prrblic interest hy proviciing them *ith u ctroice<br />
flmong several sYsterns.<br />
Thank vo' foilthe opportrrnity to bc with you torlay. rf there are flny<br />
Questions, lve would ba happv to answer thcm.<br />
[The slides follow:l
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$chererville,lndiana<br />
May 18, 1973<br />
AIHCUSHIONCAR<br />
DELIVFRY VAN<br />
PICKUFTRUCK<br />
DI<br />
Washington, D- C.<br />
April 21, 1973<br />
AIBCUSHIONcAB - 5 mPh<br />
1972 DoDGE " '15 mph<br />
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58
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Elkins Fark, Fennsylvania<br />
Jum 17, rf,7$<br />
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Air Cuehion with Lap Belt
lap<br />
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fsFslbFd.ndF*<br />
Lp astb s'd Sorundil<br />
Wtrnlng Fmntsd Rstr<br />
63<br />
861t $d lntsrlft*<br />
Bolt.lhtedtrk<br />
dld E6h UBo l.{rafi<br />
|Iedonal Re*talnt $Yetom<br />
Eff octiveneee E$timate$<br />
il<br />
ffi<br />
ffi<br />
}M<br />
1$<br />
*., ,*,i<br />
senator lrnnrs,n. As r have indicated previousy, Allstate did have<br />
n lif*r*ot-"""fyG* of vour ?06 acciderits. rvhich l think is in the<br />
record. ^"A;l;t: is that co'rrect ? Ii I ciidntt, I want that inserted into the record'<br />
i""t^,*tt ** we S*natois are objective in our approache-s, I<br />
h-"-:;;;*iil;;tly h"ia io the fact that rvfien vo.u get into the field of<br />
iechiroloEv that"vou ought to have sonebodv who-is competent irr the<br />
h.f,f-"1-ii"i"*"t"| ieviJw that material, and to thet extent f do not<br />
p"olr* that I am going to sit here and judge whether that presentafiod<br />
-- is obiectivelv c-brreit or not'<br />
f-iu*i-il** iri'r'e,iicrate one thing. I hope you rvill continue Your<br />
o".ri,it-*itii-ititig"tt.. of safety, rather than pirrsue a coneept and try<br />
i;;;;;- iil; ;;;";pa is right"inther than tiving to prove safetv is<br />
"ttt<br />
o* yo' a,re going to do that. At least you ere going to admit you<br />
are -^ifi..-S;";";i,r*.<br />
going to do that'<br />
lt". Chair'ran, this is what have tried to present<br />
torln". ltrot tn"t" is mo"e than one way to gain thc same end, that is,<br />
savirig lives, and lre hopc rve heep all these aYcnues open'<br />
ile
64<br />
_^_I,^tj8^h.q<br />
ask,,however, at this point,. that we have opportunity to<br />
revlew Ailstatc's revlew of our material.<br />
-se'ator rrlr*nn. we will rreep-the record open and ret yo. make<br />
..:;";,., ".<br />
Illr?t""<br />
c,ornrrr.nt<br />
.:"",,",." yo* Jr,(r ca,rc to rt'ako. fo" mny'i#r. ot-Aii*#;';;r;:<br />
L*rr Lt, rrr4nu. r uu rrtil,y rooti t{f, l\llslaI,t,s l)Tescntatiorr.<br />
r rrm not interestcd in confrorrtlti"ons. r am interr:stefi in<br />
pcople brling_vcry eont:e_r'ned, and if thr+v are r:onvint:ed[ of t]re. aptlroach.<br />
ask rhem to<br />
*_::ltu"tlly.cto''t<br />
Lruck oII sir'ply o^ the gro''cis of the<br />
frrcts of t:tyiqg to get along.<br />
And that is wifh rue or<br />
right?<br />
Mr. Srrtnnlren. Yes.<br />
Sonator lfenrrn. 'lVe with anvbody elsc or with each other. All<br />
have one more witnees.<br />
SIATEMENT 0r,S. t. IERRY, VrCE PRESIDENT, ENVTAONMENTAT<br />
<strong>AND</strong> SAFETY RELATIONS, TIIE CHRYSLER C0Rp.; ACC0MPANIEn<br />
BY ROBERT M. srNclArB, ExEcurrvE ENGTNEEB 0r'ADVANCEI)<br />
cAR ENGINEERING Or'xICE; <strong>AND</strong> MTCHAEI W. GETCE. CORI0.<br />
BATE IEGAI STAtrT'<br />
*,_Y.::-_P11:,<br />
M,q rlape is Sydney T.-Terry. I_ am y_r_cg presidenr,, en_<br />
vironmental and safety rclntibnp f"or ch"ysilr'!".p. wiih'-- iiiiu.y u"*<br />
Mr. Robert M. Sinclair, "*ecuti,'e- erlgitr'**i,-,,f o"i;'-.i;;;;il ;ffi#+<br />
l:t:;i'iili{sq,#4",\i1l'ifi:i:ll:'ift :tt#il:TJ'J#Hilli;"1d11<br />
We,appr:eciate<br />
vvu.arppr.'ecraiLe this r,nls opportrr'ity opporurrrtty to give grve the cornmii't* corn ; b;;?;es$ re_<br />
port on our orcupfl,l,)t restla,int clovelopment rvor,k.<br />
chrysler _cn"i,. has bee' activelv'rv'it i'e orr improved occupant<br />
;tratnts of both an netive and a n:rssiwrr nrrfrirp .F^" rn-,r-., rroo-o oi.',,+<br />
l::"t11lLtr.?j bpth:l t:!i". a.nd a prissive nu,ture for:.rfianv ye_ars, sittr_<br />
rng ing wttl with the introduction of seatbeits for our vehiclcs in ttre spring<br />
of 1955.<br />
.<br />
, we havrr been worlring<br />
with the rnajor suppliers of air<br />
bv regrrlations rttempted<br />
timetablo for installalion<br />
while we 'ecognize this committee is primarily interested in discuss-<br />
Ing trrr baEls, $-e llclrove scattrelts must contirrrre to bc the base reference<br />
llornt for anv cliscussion of restr.aint systems lrer:ansc thev trre tlre most<br />
pro.t,enr most reliable, and most c+frcctivs restraint systcm irow available.<br />
Wq<br />
nT conli:r.ing to irrrprov. o'r seathelt svstems and o' o'r rg?4<br />
models thev will l.re both lltore convertient arrd rrroro cornfortable to use.<br />
Passive restrrrints, of. lvhic.h air bn,gs are the principn,r contcrrtrer:,<br />
are,a potenti,ally uttractive safety dr:vice bcearrse tlicy reiuirc no action<br />
DY r,ne vettlctc o(]r1rrpalrt, | lowever'. ilrcy are vcr'y r:oritplex, very rnutl]r<br />
more expcnsive.anrl ure not as efiective in restraiuing occupl,nts in<br />
manv accident situations.<br />
rn the miclsixtics we hegnn to research and develop progrem on<br />
air.bags arfter it was first demonstrrted tlrnt there was'sriflici?nt time<br />
to rnflate tt cushion bctween the first instant of vchicle irntrrrct - --' but<br />
before -thrr_oecuprrnt conttreted the interior of the-vehic1n.<br />
rrr rr'cldition to orr' orvrr clt've.lopment program, we. havrr been worlring<br />
th the rnajor s'ppliers_of air irag rv*t*-r as well &s som. two dozen<br />
contmctors to tht:sr-' total svstr:rrr sujlpliers. Much progress has been<br />
madrr in the clevclopnrent 'ot ail lrrrgs ,rr,.l many'of-the prntrt*nr=<br />
encourrter:ed in enllinr. developmental stages opp.u"'to have becn solvcd<br />
frorn t practicrrI stnndpoinll.<br />
On the legulatorv slde. thc NHTSA has<br />
to for:ce development of air bag systcms on a
OD<br />
in all ears. This regulatory roce$$ started over 4 ye&rs egor *nd has<br />
involvcrl over: 27 notir:es of lrrlemirliirrg to itttempt to sttpport aud<br />
srtsttrin MVSS 208.<br />
The latest rulinE affectins MVSS 908 was issued last Friday. On<br />
thrrt, date NllTSt''lrlomulgiitcd nerv itrterin legulations fn-r the test<br />
dum[ry to pcrmit rrianufaciirrcrs to certify vehicles equipped with air<br />
bags oir an optional basis for the model yerrrs 19?4 *ncl 1975.<br />
I'his lat*st r,Lrlerntking nllpeals to recoglizc the frrct that fprthcr<br />
research and devel'pmeirt bT air bag systems.and compliance test<br />
proceclures is r',or.,trssal]y lx:fort further i'ort,"sidetntion is givcir to makilg<br />
them manclator'1'. fVe nrtl nrost ettcottmgt:d b1' this.<br />
fn order tor ]lfv$ti POB to be valid. durnrrries nud relatcd test proceclqrcs<br />
should bc equnlly applicalrle to other lestrai_nt systcms. iuclucling<br />
stratbelts. This jsiot tto'r'; thc cil.5e evcll rvith the trew durrrmy<br />
specifica,tions issrrecl last rvet:li. 11 this iegtrrfl. 1vr) wel'c pleasccl that<br />
NffT'SA indicated in the pleface to this re;lulation that the etrtire<br />
durlny test sprcifi.catiorr ivill bt-' reoperttrcl befole tuy reqtrireurettt<br />
for rnanclatoty- Dassive restrtiuts is issucd.<br />
Wc hope tiiis-leaves t'he door opcn to consideration of other-types<br />
of dummlies, such ns the one bcing devaloped by the lJniversity of<br />
trfichigan Snfcty Reseu,r'ch Institute.<br />
I)rrrinp5 this period of reg3rlatory indec:ision, even though.thtre were<br />
no test tliitcrin or ptlnding rrrrrtttltrtorv letlrtirctrretrts for air bnES, ]v-e<br />
continued our air birg research trntl develolirrrertt programs, nloug rrith<br />
our developrnent of Jmprovcd Lrrlt s.vstcnis u-itlithc sttrter intErlock<br />
requirecl fol 1974 tnoctel pilssenger (:rrs.<br />
The interloclr syst,tur ii dcsigned to ovcrcome one of the major<br />
eriticisms of trolt systems I natnely, the reluctance of rnany car occulrants<br />
- to rtse thern.<br />
We arc confident that the interlock tosether rvith our more convenient<br />
rrnd comfortrlble bclts rvill bring about rr substtrrrtial increase in<br />
belt usilse irr 19?4 and. bevoncl.<br />
A fuither devalopmeilt 'n-orth noting is the experienee in Australia<br />
with mantlatory setrthclt lrsage larvs. Through that sinrltle teehnique,<br />
the Anstrtrlirn .statcs hrte ,t.,iiicned a high pei'ccnt of seutbclt use '*iith<br />
onlv ruinol obiections by the nrotorists.<br />
-Denttrs<br />
ancl serious iniuries in<br />
accidents hrlvei hcen repbrted to have clecrensccl 20- !5 perccnt due to<br />
thc mandatory bclt usi.ge lau's norv efrective in all seven Australis,n<br />
states,<br />
fn addition, France has now gone into mandatory use of seatbelts as<br />
of thc first of July.<br />
Senator lfanmn. Are you sure?<br />
Mr. Tnnnr. Yes.<br />
Senntor lfenrrn. I wish thev would stop testing nuelear bombs.<br />
Ilr. Tnnnr. \\'cll. thev are doing that, too, but they ha,ve, as of the<br />
first of July, gone irrto tlie mandato-iy rtsc of seatbelts.<br />
Senator "Il"enrntt. You kttot', whEre is the sense of outrage in this<br />
country ilnymore ? You peoplc dontt give a dnmn either I guess. I<br />
reallyal sriv this to you iilriic sittcereti-I cannot see rvhere inclustry<br />
in this "ouni"y has "ipt'eisecl any outiage about the fact thnt we are<br />
going to kill ali your kids. q,re going to hrive babies born u'ith trvo heads<br />
atrcl cancer anrl l-eukemia all over tli6 plat:e.<br />
l{o rvonder there is no excitemen't about killins 'lvhatever we kill.
66<br />
Mr. Tbnny. Senator, f am not sure<br />
ments.<br />
we all know of these develop_<br />
Senator Henrrrn. you donrt krrow about<br />
Mr.<br />
the<br />
Tbnry. f<br />
bombs<br />
know<br />
being<br />
thcy<br />
shot?<br />
are t**ti"g'ih"<br />
our chilclren<br />
bo_rn's, but<br />
are, ail<br />
f<br />
ooing'io<br />
don,t believe<br />
rr* rro'ifntormecl<br />
mipinformed rrecir*sc<br />
or uniirformed.<br />
of it. r co.rcr be<br />
senrrtor lf,rnrrrn. ff you<br />
lrgqe any childrcn or grantlchilclren thnt<br />
l,1l_{"iT_{.to<br />
be pregnai,t<br />
*rnE. rhat 4iliii,;i;t il; ycar,<br />
vou are rooriing.forward<br />
f gna.arrrec you one<br />
t" u g*a ir,";"'i;;ililIor.mities.<br />
fi_Hi:TEmy.<br />
our'robrerf is to get thl t ttr, *"ii _;il; il;ill;people<br />
senator r{anrrrn' T can't make them<br />
safety'<br />
risten. Nfr.ody<br />
The.e is no<br />
is ristening<br />
feering aborrt<br />
g-f ;;i;il; ,irro*r,t_nnybntrv,'o'e irrihe crellllTg"t<br />
r am'ot saving ther'" nr,, tro*<br />
ua,Is peopr-^ilri<br />
who tr,rc t'vins to do--somet],i"g utoiii safcty,. but, you lr'tw, when<br />
i;',iri'ii,.#i"airia_<br />
ilXfi,-Slpolio qiidemic we pourEd ttiemoney i" ii;;; idii u *u"*<br />
o.We thriught i,t, wqs Foing into eaneer. rJut these<br />
Now thev<br />
are have<br />
all *t-l:.t<br />
cut ofi on that.<br />
LTl1g1i,<br />
*1ig1r1** yo,,<br />
and the fact ir,iirr.<br />
that thevli,*"or<br />
the countr.y rrot,<br />
cloes'not<br />
not pay<br />
think thcv<br />
any attentioi,^,T_*-1d,"<br />
ale rojaied ancl does<br />
"ot oay-pay.s<br />
happens<br />
attention<br />
to be in his<br />
to them<br />
backyard.<br />
u'lcss it<br />
rae ba,rbecues his steaks arrd tests his air<br />
and that<br />
lla,gs,<br />
is it,<br />
ancl<br />
a,nd,+,*<br />
comes on<br />
if:l;;;,,;q<br />
home<br />
"f<br />
m'ocl of iie country,<br />
the antomob'e<br />
anrt that is<br />
safct.v,<br />
uro<br />
nn,t ti'oi is<br />
ress<br />
*htl.<br />
being<br />
a;irrr;il;#i;<br />
rrrade. r have<br />
p""g_<br />
,ot'$een that iype<br />
materially reduced<br />
of<br />
antomobilc 'rogress which rras<br />
r""ia-rrt=. '<br />
yye ,'eve a heari'g her:e,,yo* ]rave to<br />
e.ommittee<br />
m_ake sure you<br />
lry corniu g satisfv<br />
u p the<br />
wi tti ; ;til".";;<br />
the trest you<br />
;"hi;i,<br />
cnn. rtrd,i:Il,l.:1,*yi1r5ln,,<br />
;l;*i :y;,ilHt"i. ";<br />
that ther6 u"" not. f arn jusr<br />
isn't tliat unaenyrng sriyrng<br />
thrust to move.<br />
r am not picki's voo oi,t #p-"i;lrJ.'i'iiop* ynu<br />
Mr. Tnnnr. yes.iii.<br />
unrrerstnnd that.<br />
Sena_tor lfrRrrn. All right, go ahead.<br />
f"ffil;Jr**y. Some of tfie- de?ious-[ilnrtions srilt o'tstan*ing are as<br />
_-,1:<br />
Sy*lqtrs perfor:mancc in smaller cars<br />
ptgy1l_"Itime<br />
where noise and<br />
problems<br />
de-<br />
flre much more severe;<br />
z. sv$tcrrls ncr.formance over the widc. range of<br />
altjtudes,<br />
temperatrtres,<br />
an d bther moto "ing en,riitl-*rr.,<br />
3. The effoct<br />
;<br />
of aginE n" .ifiafriiit"l^'<br />
4. Manufacturin'[ qiralitv u**rrronti ;<br />
b. Field mninteriiric" urid ."rii.* "iqui.**errts, v-hich<br />
new<br />
demand<br />
antl, sophist icatecl i'strurrrerrtatio'' n"a te-.i,"iq";; ;";ilg<br />
no precedence in the autornobire o' ary ottrn. riigiiinii-"<br />
sumer<br />
*on_<br />
nroduet:<br />
, 6.. Tho .problom<br />
of safe disposal of millions<br />
qevtce$<br />
of these explosive<br />
' when tlrey needto,be<br />
{$plar:ecl or rrhen the car is junked;<br />
7. The muctr discussecl standing.hii.l p."i;i;;;^;';;il J* -."o<br />
other occupant-out-of-position situations I<br />
against injury<br />
*l.Il1,.ing<br />
from byproducts of bag deploy_<br />
ment; end<br />
9- P.oviding proteetion in angle and sicle crashrs, rollovers, and<br />
multiple crashes.
67<br />
'W'e<br />
are expediting the procurtment and test ch-eeking of dummies<br />
accotcling toilrtr ne# rulirig so that \\-e cttn proceetl r-ith the- enginee.ring<br />
deveiopnent 'work leiessa"r- to sr.rlve tficse profulerns. Mrrch will<br />
halre to bc done to ar:cotnnrtltlnte ttil trag systerls to our thlee ctomestic<br />
basic boclies ancl their variorr$ bodV ihdl insttutletrt panel designs.<br />
Our obiective is to he in rr position to offer frorrt seat air bags as an<br />
option 'f,ookinlt on our entire 1976 produc:t line.<br />
lt the total irlllic safety cflort atrcl occ:rtpant protection<br />
mea.Sures avrrilabJe, rve belie\-e that the best rrtrtitlnal^program importantlV<br />
indrriles u rontinuation of effolts to develop inflatable restraints<br />
on an ontional basis.<br />
llor.-'etr,r., it nr[st be remembered that none of the air bag systems<br />
nOw available provicLe aS good prOtection for cttr ot:cupantsi as Jtrstcned<br />
iirn nn,t should'er belts. Ajxt thii assunres that the air bags work idettllv<br />
as'thev arc intentltrcl to work.<br />
lTntil rve hrrvc been able to deterrnine the effectiveness and public<br />
acceptance of the variotrs occtrPaut restraint 'systtmssuch as,lap and<br />
shoulcle" bclts with warning clei-iccs, lap anrl shoulder belts with inter'<br />
to"t r, oi" bags ir.lqne, alrcl<br />
'air bag_s'in^cornbination rvith lapbelts, we<br />
fr"fi*u*. that Tt is plt:rnature to sElect one systetn to thc exilusion of<br />
others.<br />
At lhis stage of our development we.intend to offer.lnpbelts n-ith air<br />
hag svstems'6ecause of the ,rital adclitional. protcction lallhelts p_rovicle-<br />
iTurthel'rlot'c, and I think have sttrtistiial data to irrdicate that<br />
beltecl clrivers attd ivc are r:onvincetJ frotn Our owlr road test experiertce<br />
thab a faslunt:d laObelt is ir srtbstatrtitrl aid to a tlrivcr in an cmergcncy<br />
situation because bf tlte help it provides hinr in.controlling thc vehicle.<br />
Senator H,rtrnn. lVill yiru present that statistical tlata to the committerr,<br />
please ?<br />
trfr. Tnnnv. Yes. T will. A lnpbelted driver is better able to avoid a<br />
erash tharr is a noribelted driterl. This Ctrn be proven lry taking a clrive<br />
over the rvinding performance roacl at our pio.vilS-gi-ound'.Tho first<br />
thine the drivei'niust tlo is to be surc that he is belted in place so he<br />
can maintain his rrosition behind tho rvheel. It is absolutely essential<br />
if you are drivingthese courses to be beltcd behind the wheel in orcler<br />
to do the driving job.<br />
So drivers sltdrria have to wear Iapbelts to protect others-that is<br />
the public in ;4eneral, as well as themselves.- This is- tln argument that<br />
coulh very we,ll be a irving fagtor in cletermining whether or not mandatorv<br />
belt usagc can be 'iustified.<br />
Thi's is to rrroTeet otheli, not irtst the driver himself.<br />
fn our o;iinion the rlost important immedinte improvements in<br />
tra{fic safety ctrr be achievecl frbm an aggressivc pronrotion of seatbelt<br />
usage "and rve rrgree rvith I{HTSA that mandatory usage laws<br />
should be enacted trnd enforcecl by the States.<br />
J4rc rvould be plcased now to answer any questions the c_ommittee<br />
may have otr o,trlrresentirtion including " oui aii bag work ancl our continuing<br />
rvorlr to iintr.o't-e belt systenrs.<br />
Senirtor lfnn'rnn. fs it your intcntion to legally challenge the regulations<br />
?<br />
n[r. Tnnnx. No. sir. Our only concern from the beginning has been<br />
that this clummy'lNr ttsecl as thL only way to eheck r:currplaints for: all<br />
kinds of restraint systems, and it was specifically pointetl out in this
,68<br />
regulation that this dummy is not intended for that purpose, and will<br />
onlv bc rrsed for compliance. of operational air bag s.yiteil in 1924<br />
and 19?5.<br />
scrrator: r{anrnn. r did think your comment eoncerning the control<br />
of tlre automobile js rather a, signific:rrnt staternent. r thfirk it shoultl<br />
bc -Who pursueil.<br />
was it in the automobile int{ustry who was talkinE about the in_<br />
creased safety due to the weight of an aritomobile ?<br />
Mr. Tnnny. I4/e have done lhat.<br />
Senator llrnrrn. Offi cially ?<br />
Mr'. Tnnnv. r helieve it l'rrs Rov Hrreusle'of our corporrrtion. He is<br />
our ehief safctv enqincer.<br />
senator H,rnrrr,rl To a1 inexperieneed mind, if there is a eonscious<br />
efrqr.t"bling made by the Goveniment to ask people to use ,*oil** "*"*,<br />
ancl rf that is going to contrjbute to more aieiclents antl mo.e cleaths.<br />
Y.ott you<br />
Ee3,<br />
fl.pproach,the whole thing fr_o-m the wrong rlirection. Thcy<br />
should be trying to solve the energy problem instead'irf trying to finft<br />
excllses,<br />
Mr. Tnnnv. That is one reoson we brought it up at this time.'we feel<br />
it is a factor that certainlv shoukl be hroright o.,t b"fore *e *akc decisions<br />
withorrt consicleri4fi all thc ttadeoffd, or recommondaiions without<br />
considgling all th^e. implications of these recommendaiioni.,<br />
senator r{aRrnn. rf r hatl a choice, r worrrd 'ather ricle in the heaviest<br />
car you havc got, rather thrrn the smallest compact, noT ulo"e tor<br />
eomfort but f hnve to admit that mv mcntrrl state is^better.<br />
f think thnt is hettcl flrRn an insur"ance policy.<br />
Mr. Tnnny. Yes.<br />
senator }r,rnrnn. r have no other questions for vou. r want to thank<br />
yorr for procecding in this, brrt lert *e sav to you ill again thai we are<br />
not going to be technjcians. f hope that vorr iill trv to devclon inside<br />
the whole automohile inclustry nnrl thosc"lrcople concernec,l with safety<br />
g greater eonccrn, ancl not trv to encouragi th'e lack of criticism simply<br />
In orrler to state that you arc doing rr. eood iob.<br />
i\fi:. Tnnnv. Mavbe'we thrive oncrilicism. Senator.<br />
flenator Hrn*n. T am not savinq vo. thrive on critieism but selfeomplaceney<br />
is t.ho most dnrrserous thiirg that eoultl happen to n nation.<br />
I I}Aye no rurtner (lll(:stlons. I appreerate volrr aDl)earance,<br />
[Tle_ follorving inf'orrnation iv-as srrbse"qucntl.i'^ received for the<br />
reeord:]<br />
Csnyelnn Conp.<br />
Detrolt, Mi,eh., Augwst 8, 1978,<br />
Hon, Vencn Henrxs.<br />
The U.8. fienuto, Eenate Ofr,ae Bulliling,<br />
Wa.sh.in17t.on, I1.0,<br />
Dn,rn SnN,rron lflr-nrr
sg<br />
October 19[2 whleh ehowB a hlgher frequeney of multlple impact accldents<br />
IlfrV"l enerilltererl ti' Oiivers n1t wen.ilg seat belts compared to the fre-<br />
,i;;;;i' of suctr acciilents (287o) encounteriltl LrJ' drivers r!.'ho wjar the ltalt<br />
ie,*t",iirtt. TJre clifference'ls ,strriiiti.,allt sigrrificant tlt the t% Ievel and clearly<br />
irirligrtes tIIflt werlrillg seat ttctts is benr-'ficitrl t6 the cJriver's flbilitv to m1rirttain<br />
control of the vehicle.<br />
.I.he two letters from R. c, Haeusler to Mr. IIoNtrLl Pyle, President of the<br />
Nrtional safety corr]lr:il (atta(:hnent 3), descril)r- tlre gteater pr'otectlveness<br />
AIIOrdccl tht-' OCCtrpants of lArger, hetviet ci{rs C(llilI)flretl tO smaller, lighter earg'<br />
As indicrrted in ttre tetter iiiLt3tl ^\Iay 4, 1973, tliti flntling .f a l{erv York State<br />
Motor Vehcle l)epartment stutly contirrtlted fot the U'S' Depflrtment of Transpoltation<br />
sh6ws i.1:rt the oecupant of n 2,000 ltotrnd car is three times as likely<br />
io he liilled or serionsly injured as the oeeupalrt of a 4,800 ltound ear rvhen the<br />
veiricle is iltvolved in n. "typictl" traflic crash.<br />
I hope this ilfrirl'ntiori pr6ves sltisfactory to the ilterests of the Cornmlttee<br />
ana that r*ou wiill ]rc abli to iuclutle this infotrnation in ttre tct:tlrcl of the<br />
hearing.<br />
Sineerely,<br />
S. L, TrnsY.<br />
EneloBure,<br />
lAttachment 1l<br />
E na iro nnt ent a, . u'i.!f;f',i f!!!#l;r.<br />
IDTtnR CorrPeNY CoRBESP0NDENoE,<br />
Jultt 81,19'tS'<br />
SubJect: Mandfltory Seat BeIt Legislation-tr'rance.<br />
S. L. TEITBY,<br />
Virc I'res ii!.etut, Enllironmentill an(tr Ed'f etv RelatlonE.<br />
You tnoy wish to rafer trt the attachetl report in your statement before the U'S'<br />
Senate Llommittee on (lortlrnt'rce tollrotrow.<br />
fiiii r,upy of a1 rrrtit:te f..,ni the June llJ issue of f,'Equipe spells otlt revisions<br />
in ihe F.e.nefr Corle de lrr Ro'te accortling to tlecisions renchetl lly the Ititerminisieriuf<br />
Oouneit on Jurle 13, enrlorstrd by I'r:tsident Porulitlotr iln(l tlllnounccd lry thtl<br />
Prinle Minister, M, Mtlssrrter'<br />
iiiiie.ri"g ts Artir:ls ! of tlie Ilrotrosncglnent, effective Jlly 1, 19?8, -lt.is ntan'<br />
Oatiir:V tfrat s(lilt belts iusttrlltxl in velricles shippt'tl after r\prll 1, utrrn<br />
-11)70-lte<br />
,it n.,i",.ggtnurerations", n*,'ning outsirle tttttropolititn areas. April 1, ]l)70, ir$ the<br />
Oaie-*tieir thtec-lxrint ll(rlt slrst{lns Lrecome ntantlttoLy equiltruent on frollt scflts<br />
of all cars registereil in Metropole I'rilnee'<br />
We d' not have fl "oliy of-irri' neri regulation itself. tmt Joe ]Ialtts conlirmetl<br />
thii rlorning in telephrine euilr'ersation wiflr Jrrck (.]ornell iil lraris that the<br />
Frtrttch police are vigorously anforcinE it.<br />
R, M. Srxcr,arn,<br />
E a ec utla e En (l'i,tuee r, Ail'uan c e C ar E n g in eering'<br />
lAttacbment 2l<br />
INTER COMPANY CORBESPOICDEICCE,<br />
Ailguyt 2, 1978.<br />
subjeet: Drivers'wearlng seat Belts Are Less Likely To Be rnvolved in Multiple<br />
hnpact Accideflts.<br />
S, L. Trnnl,<br />
i it:e Presiit cnt, Enuironmentatr antl, E afetll R'el'atilons'<br />
In ()rtober, 19?2 n stutly \lils In&dfi relative to the frequency of multiple !qr,p".t<br />
o.*i,r*"j*-injt." t[,e driver uses lap ]elt restraints. This analysis of 1'&55<br />
i"j,i"lj,i"r,i.r"nt cfl,ries i1 recent Iuotlel (1tl6? antl Ilter) cars.showe
70<br />
eult.ljr multinle impaets if all drlvers were wearlng seat belte. lrhe<br />
signiflcant_<br />
dif,ereuee ts<br />
at lhe 1lo level. _I)etails are presented inAir-nle i "iia ,tpi,.IrAi" I<br />
. The-'rrrltiple impact accidents in_the sample were further sub^d'i"ided<br />
tylle<br />
hy<br />
of thelnitial<br />
the<br />
impflct, either to the front, side, or rear ortne vetiicre<br />
mine<br />
lo oeter_<br />
if belt wearing tlplrears_to bc univer:sally bencncirl t., i.ft* Oi*"r"s atriltty<br />
to mflintain control of the veliicle. Tablc II shows that the tLeri *-e.ailitrg A"i""i<br />
was lnvolved_ lesg freque.nfly in rnulttple impact accirlents than an ""t *rt*h a.to**<br />
regartlless of initial dircction of irnpitr:t, w-ith one cxcel)tio1, trre casti wlere<br />
itiitial<br />
the<br />
irnpact is frotr thr rear. t'his'frequency rliffcrene'e'rriiirti.li.'""1**t.o *io"*<br />
the scat belt is not likely to have as great an influtnce ;ii'lt"i;",r,;it:*I,tu**rrr*rr..<br />
Bccause of the srnaller strnple size in these suhscts, significant:e tuas ins,i,-arlrouglr<br />
the use of belts in a frorrt*l tvpe, initiar ir'1iact w*s in'.irr.i tu ii., *isniii;h;t to tn*<br />
57o Level,<br />
. R. ITAEUBLEE,<br />
Chief Enltin.eer,<br />
Auto rcufetlt and Seourit!|.<br />
TABLE I,-DRIVER SEAT BELT USAGE IN VARIOUS TYPES OF ACCIDENTS<br />
Typ6 ol eccident<br />
Side- - -- - --- ---,--.<br />
R6dr---------------<br />
0thBr<br />
fotdl - -----------"-<br />
V6hicle<br />
ca$es<br />
7:'07-8- ==:2.ag<br />
v.000793 +.00021 1<br />
Answer.-Yes, significant at the l fo level.<br />
Drivers Drivers not percent of<br />
belled belted drivers beltso<br />
15{ 'ut<br />
2E<br />
123<br />
il<br />
ll<br />
431<br />
'33<br />
17<br />
lgi 3 4 tri 9 2 ltg 5<br />
E8 12 76<br />
0, 2ll<br />
. 226<br />
. 250<br />
. 393<br />
.170<br />
. 178<br />
,284<br />
.lJo<br />
l,070 . 210<br />
Appnwnrx A,-Flutnrt.r,nv or .q,N EvlLuA,TroN To DprnnMrNu Ir rrNnnglnerwnn<br />
Dntv'ns Ann Monn Lrxpr,v To Bn lNvor,vnn rrc ,a, Mur,Tipr,e--Ilrp.q,cr<br />
ACCIDENT<br />
Frequency of multiple_impa,ct accidente in the aeeident flle-469/1,BEE:0.846.<br />
l.requency of berted drivere in r'ultiple impact accidents-gl lzg1:o.zg4.<br />
rrrequency,ot unbelted driverB in rrrultiple impact accidcnts-Bgg/1,020:0.862.<br />
rts lne nrgner rreoueney ot lrnbelted drivers in multiple impact, accidents<br />
signiflcant?<br />
r:P-l=P*.lPJ:I--<br />
P;P;(-l-PJ -r---m-<br />
]-ar.<br />
TABLE II.-FREQUENCY OF MULTIPTE.IMPACT ACCIDENT$ (MIA) FOR BELTED <strong>AND</strong> UNBELTED DRIVERS AT<br />
DIFFERENT INITIAL DIRECTION$ OF IMPACT<br />
lnitlal dlrection ol<br />
lm pact<br />
t*111.::<br />
Number ot<br />
inj ury<br />
accident P6rc6nt of<br />
cas€s total<br />
.346(.654), -ze6-T-i,ozo .346(.68?) -<br />
Frrquency<br />
ol MIA<br />
Front 749 55 0. 260<br />
404 30 , 376<br />
-: -::: -::- -: - : -: 86<br />
o . 395<br />
other------------- -----<br />
llo<br />
I . 760<br />
FreQuency Freouencv<br />
ol MIA foi for MtA roi<br />
unbelted belted<br />
drivers drivers<br />
0.214<br />
. 391<br />
.391<br />
. 817<br />
0.211<br />
,322<br />
. 409<br />
.52?<br />
Frequency<br />
ditferenc€<br />
+0,063<br />
+.069<br />
-. olE<br />
-t , ?95<br />
Totel------------ l. 355 . s46 . 362 .284 . 078
7l<br />
[Attachment 3]<br />
CEBYBT,B CoiBP"<br />
Detroit, Mich', June P'1' I97S'<br />
Versus Srua.lt CarB-A Much Needed<br />
$ubiect: 'Public 0ceupant Safety In Large Cars<br />
Informatlon Program.<br />
Mr, HowAnD PrLu,<br />
Prelid,ent, Natdonal' Eaf etv Cownoll,<br />
Ch,l,cago, I1'1,<br />
DneR}Iow*ED:Theattachedmemotandumentltleil,.Cnroceupantlnjury<br />
Severity Versus Car wilti;*u* "" qttltllment to my previous-letter on this<br />
J*ti[ *rii'i"ii. Wu ** hav"e additional data that tends to conflrm the lnrrtortance<br />
ofmoreadequateandlessbiasedinfornrntiorrtothepulilrc'HlIdIy-.u.d.u;I.goeslry<br />
without some aclditlonur-unOoiietti*oi from tire I'ederlnl Governrrent of the desirability<br />
of h&ving tne pnUtic swltch to smflll cars in order to reduce fuel cotr'<br />
,ri-piio", rvlth n"rr ,rrerlio-*-i*in* uriAe of the Jact that the occupants of the subcomDact<br />
car {rnnear ro ",*lirr"*? ti*i* trr* risk of ftrtal iDiury per thousand such<br />
.u"e o" tfre roatl as tlo the occupants of the full-elze cars'<br />
Infor'ration ha$ Just;;-;ilil-;"attuUtu<br />
from the NatioD*l Safetv Councll<br />
Stilt*;i."i-ii*rra"t-int ttraf ittoicates that car oecuDant fat&lities rose l-rv 1,000<br />
in lgZZ as.courpared to 19?1. Thi$ ts in contrflst rviti ttre ttrop of-2,600 fatrlities<br />
in the 'revir)us two-ye&;'pe"ioit, Data impe^rfectlons 'tldo*Stedly account for<br />
,*-" ot'tfri* differencL, but^ttre swing from a 2,00{} frrt8litl retlrretion-(nrnong c{lr<br />
".""p."t"*i"i""rdio *"4'*" aaCiiio"*at S00 fatllit.c r.duction in 1971 t6.n 1'000<br />
iaiaiity i"creaie irr tszfls-irii: ioo grest to be rlismlssed on this liasis' rt ls<br />
iiishl.y"l,.ili"-i;ife iirat a .*n*tutitint-i.tcrease in subcotnpact c&t's in olr totril<br />
crr population woulcl correslrondingll' increase ctrr occup8nt fataltties' It lvould<br />
;;il;; i;;;"-Jrouto. ifiot trri* rr** ue!"n to show up-in actual fact anrl not jrrst in<br />
itrooy. Thare'rnay intleerl be other-factors at rv
72<br />
morning on the "Today" Show by Ctaude Brlnegar, the new Seeretary of Transportation,<br />
when he heavily endorsetl the fuel jrflving merlts of the smtrll ear hut<br />
mn.tle no rncntion whirts()ever of thc very Sreat loss in safety. f)oug Torns and<br />
,Tohn Vollrc hnrl rcpcatedly milde statements thrrt they $'ant(ld to retluce the<br />
ftnnu&l traflic toll by 50% hy 11)$0. If the Depattment of Trfln$portati(m persists<br />
in remnining silent on the threefold lnet:en.se ln risk of fn.ta] or near-fatal initrry<br />
Elmong occupfln{:s of t}re sulrcomlract etil',$, as cotnpttred to full.-size cars, thtly<br />
will insttrrrl have taherr a very lrrrge stcp ltr the wrrtrrg direction.<br />
Thc puhlie very delinittrly netrls guirlanee on the safety issue and neetls it from<br />
a nerrtral s(Ilrce. The steflilily in(lreasing ctisf ()f nerv vehicles resulting from<br />
inflirtioilirry force$, as well a$ from the atldcrl eost of safety flnd ()mission colltrol<br />
equiprncnt requirerl throrrgh govetnrner)t regulfltion, has fllrend.y htd its<br />
cffect in llrshing l)eople irlto tihe srnflll eflr m{rrket. Ii'uel shortnges untl rising ftrel<br />
prices can lle expected to rrccelernte this pace. Wtro is going tt tell the e()nsllmers<br />
the truth rvith rtrgard to safety and at least wa.r'n tlicm thn.t they may be<br />
treb)ing their risk of critical iujury?<br />
$ineetclY,<br />
Rov Elenuer,nn.<br />
Chief Engineer,<br />
Automnt iE E E alet11 a,nil, Eeaur4tg,<br />
P.-q. The automotlve manufacturer is apt to btr regardetl as having a vested<br />
interest in the selling of the lar:gcr rrrrtl more prolittrble car. Nevcrthcless, T have<br />
rclrcatetlly firatle t:lear-cut anrl forceful strrtcrnents in ltceping tvith the content<br />
of this letterlvltcncvcr givett tlte oltyiorttrnit.y thtough thc questions of nqlvs-<br />
Inen. Aft y()il mfly ktrow, I ilIso al]tr)r,'itrcd on the Wtrlter Ororrhite (CR$) evening<br />
news tr)r()gr'flnl in support of orrc of our.dealers in'l'exns rvho refused to sell<br />
sttbcornpacfs orr the groruds that they werc not suffieientl)' sflfe. I also rrratle<br />
Jrtrblic staternents before an assernhly of 2(Xl ratlio, lIV, rrlld ne.!'!'spallermen<br />
atterttliug ottr annual new tiirr ptess ltreview lirst sulnlner: ut Marco Islnncl,<br />
Floritlrr. In very plain lunguage f gave tlteur the eontent of the ent:loscrl mernorarxltrm<br />
fea.turing the thrct: to orle ratio of frrtalities.<br />
Blr,r, Sretr TJnrvrnnrrr,<br />
ll[ttnete, IniI., Angttst 6, 191$,<br />
Mr. Gnno Wlr,r,r,rue,<br />
I'e17isl,ati.iltt Cou,ntel, to Emator Vanca Eartft,e,<br />
U.S. Eena,te, Wash,inlrton, f),C.<br />
IJperl Mn. Wrr,LrAMs : A recent issue of ,,selttrted U.$. Government publicattlons"<br />
listed the followine:<br />
L722-0025$ "Adminisfrntors of Nursing and Personfll care Homes: Erlucation<br />
and'f.rfl ining, Ilnited States_.frne_AuEugt 106S"<br />
5270-01718 "Trends in Long TcrD Care: part 1?, Washington, D.C, (postive<br />
Aspcets), Octoher 14, 1ST1,'<br />
5170-01522 "Trent1s in Long Tenn care l part 19, wrrshington, D.c,, oetober rg,<br />
1971"<br />
6270-01[t81 "Trend's irr r,ong Term care: pnrt lga, Minneapolis-st. paul, Minn.,<br />
Novernber 29. 1971"<br />
{rTrends<br />
in Long<br />
'l'crm<br />
Care: part 1glt, Appendlx, Minneapotis-St.<br />
tsanl, Ifinn., Noveryrbcr gg, 1971"<br />
"Trends<br />
in Lorrg 'I,errn Care: pnrt p0, 6270-0r,588<br />
52?0*01 720<br />
Washington, D.O. (Access<br />
of Mirrority Gr.oups to Nurslng<br />
-10,<br />
Horn