Safety Study Cites Side Air Bags

Quote: "...the institute's study found that drivers in a vehicle rated with "good" side impact protection are 70 percent less likely to die than those in a vehicle rated "poor.""

Excellent!

The institute has proved beyond doubt that the rating of "good" is better than "poor"!

I need to learn how to write proposals for studies like these. Looks like easy money.

Both the IIHS and the NHTSA perform laboratory crash testing in an attempt to predict the occupants' severity of injuries. The results of which they provide to consumers and automakers alike.

However in this study by the IIHS actually collected injury data from real-world accidents. And yes, while one might easily look at that conclusion and say "Duh", it's good to see a correlation between the laboratory and real-world. And it's very informative that we can put a figure to how much better "good" may be.

Of course there's a tiny grain of salt to be taken in that the IIHS is basically offering this study as a validation of their own lab testing. But still, interesting information.