Vehicles equipped with side airbags
About one-third of occupant deaths occur in side impacts. Side airbags that protect both the head and chest can greatly reduce these deaths. Side airbags that protect the chest only also are effective, but not as much so.
More information:
Airbags research topics page (includes information on both front and side airbags)
Video: Side
impact test demo (00:12), opens in pop-up window
Percent side airbag availability by protection area
| 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head/torso | Standard | 83.1 | 77.0 | 64.5 | 58.9 | 47.6 | 38.3 | 31.9 | 27.0 | 22.1 | 20.3 | 18.6 | 10.1 | 5.4 | 1.3 | |||
| Optional | 2.6 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.8 | 11.5 | 15.3 | 15.6 | 12.3 | 10.3 | 8.8 | 9.4 | 6.9 | 2.2 | |||||
| Head only | Standard | 7.9 | 10.4 | 11.9 | 9.8 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.4 | |||||||
| Optional | 1.7 | 2.2 | 6.9 | 9.7 | 15.1 | 14.8 | 13.6 | 8.4 | 6.2 | 3.7 | 1.4 | |||||||
| Torso only | Standard | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 8.0 | 13.4 | 9.6 | 12.8 | 12.5 | 13.7 | 3.6 | 0.4 | |
| Optional | 0.1 | 0.1 | 3.3 | 5.7 | 10.8 | 10.9 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.3 | |||||
| Not available | 3.7 | 8.4 | 10.3 | 12.6 | 19.7 | 20.8 | 25.8 | 34.4 | 41.0 | 48.9 | 56.8 | 67.7 | 77.3 | 83.1 | 96.0 | 98.7 | 99.6 | |
