Survey of attitudes of drivers in air bag deployment crashes

Abstract A systematic sample of 215 drivers who had been in police reported crashes in North Carolina in which their car's air bag deployed were surveyed regarding their experiences. The respondents were generally favorable toward air bags, and almost all indicated that they would want an air bag in their next car. The overwhelming majority thought their air bag protected them from injury, although many respondents reported minor crash and/or air bag related injuries. Many respondents (44%) did not recall anything particular about the air bag deployment event; about one in five remembered something they perceived as a problem. Dust, odor, noise, and “smoke” were the most frequently recalled events with dust and odor being perceived most often as problems.