SA: Side airbags needed to cut head injuries

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2005
SA: Side airbags needed to cut head injuries

ADELAIDE, Dec 6 AAP - Car makers have been urged to make side airbags standard in all
models to reduce head injuries in crashes.

Following the latest crash tests conducted by the Australian New Car Assessment Program
(ANCAP), spokesman Mark Borlace said results showed side airbags could halve the chance
of a fatal or serious head injury in a severe side impact crash.

"With the increasing proportion of overall fatalities coming from side impact crashes
with vehicles, poles and trees, the inclusion of head protection is extremely important
to reduce the risk of head injuries," Mr Borlace said.

ANCAP officials also urged car producers to make side airbags available on base models,
without incorporating them with other luxury features which could add up to $10,000 to
the price of the vehicle.

In its latest tests ANCAP crashed two four-wheel drive vehicles, a Toyota Kluger and
a Subaru Outback - the Kluger was awarded four stars and the Subaru five.

ANCAP also released similar results for cars crash tested in Europe recently with five
models given a five-star rating.

They included the Mercedes Benz A Class, the recently released Toyota Yaris, the BMW
3 Series, the Citroen C4 and the Lexus GS300.

The remaining vehicles, the Suzuki Swift, the Smart ForFour, the Holden Tigra, the
Mazda 6 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee all scored four stars.

The ANCAP tests involve a frontal crash test at 64kph and a side impact test at 50kph.

AAP tjd/cjh/

KEYWORD: CRASHTESTS

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