The performance of occupant protection systems, especially air bags, is of high interest to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Since 1972, the NHTSA has operated a Special Crash Investigations (SCI) program which provides the agency with the flexibility to acquire detailed engineering information quickly on high visibility traffic crashes of special interest. The SC1 collects in-depth crash data on new and rapidly changing technologies in real world crashes. The NHTSA established the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) in 1979 to provide a nationally representative sample of motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths on our nations highways. A component of the NASS, the Crashworthiness Data System (CDS), collects statistical crash data on crashesi nvolving passengecr ars, light trucks and vans to help government scientists and engineers analyze motor vehicle crashes and resulting injuries. The NHTSA uses the data collected in these programs to evaluate rulemaking actions. The data are also used by the automotive industry and other organizations to evaluate the performance of motor vehicle occupant protection systems such as air bags.

This paper presents information from NHTSA’s SC1 and NASS CDS programs concerning crash investigations on air bag equipped vehicles. The paper’s focus is providing information on data collection and findings in the NHTSA sponsored air bag crash investigations. Topics include:​ air bagr elateds everei njuries and fatalities for belted and unbelted children, adults, adult females 157 centimeters (62 inches) or less in height, and pregnant women.