A proposal by automakers to spend $21 million to educate the public about the proper use of seat belts and the potential risks of air bags comes too late to save the lives of 15 young accident victims, but it almost certainly would help save others.
A 5-year-old Utah boy was among the 15 children who have been killed when air bags deployed during accidents. His family is suing the automaker for failing to provide adequate guidelines for drivers. Such lawsuits likely have contributed to the push for better education.Air bags have been successful as safety devices - except in some cases involving children. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates more than 900 lives have been saved by the bags since they came into use in 1987.
But the devices can be dangerous when front-seat passengers - especially children - are not wearing seat belts. Infants in rear-facing safety seats are also unsafe in the front seat of a car with air bags. Two babies in such seats have been killed by air-bag deployment.
This page has previously called for better education about the proper use of seat belts with air bags. Seat belts should be mandatory, and children must be placed in rear seats where they cannot be harmed by bags, which inflate at up to 200 mph in less than a second.
Government warnings have been unimpressive. A better and more thorough education process is needed. Encouraging states to pass seat-belt laws - something automakers are also proposing - would take years to have a positive effect. Drivers need to know the facts about air bags now.
It's about time automakers took the safety issue seriously. And it's too bad 15 children have died before such action was even proposed.