SECTION 2: TRENDS 1994 - 2003
Prevalence Of Air Bags, 1994-2003
The percentage of drivers reporting air bags in their primary vehicles has continued to increase. In 2003, 77% reported air bags in their primary vehicles, increasing steadily from 24% in 1994.
Figure 21
Air Bags In Primary Vehicle, 1994-2003
![figure 21 - click [d] for long description](../images/fig21.jpg)
[d]
Qx: Does the (car/truck/van) you normally drive have an air bag?
Base: Drivers whose primary vehicle is not a motorcycle
Air Bag Demand, 1996-2003
The proportion of drivers who prefer that their next vehicle have air bags increased steadily from 72% in 1996 to 87%5 in 2003. Preference for both driver and passenger air bags also increased steadily from 63% in 1996 to 83% in 2003.
Figure 22
Prefer Air Bags On Next Vehicle, 1996-2003
![figure 22 - click [d] for long description](../images/fig22.jpg)
Qx: Would you prefer that your next vehicle have driver air bags only, driver and passenger air bags, or no air bags?
Base: Total Population Age 16+
Air Bags And Safety Belt Use, 1994-2003
The proportion of respondents who did not view air bags as a substitute for safety belts increased slightly. In 1994, 90% disagreed with the statement “If my car has a (driver/passenger) side air bag, I don’t need to wear my seat belt when (driving/riding).” In 2003, 95% disagreed with the statement. Drivers were referred specifically to driver air bags while non-drivers were referred specifically to passenger air bags.
Figure 23
Agree Or Disagree: Safety Belt Unnecessary
When Air Bag Is Present, 1994-2003
![figure 23 - click [d] for long description](../images/fig23.jpg)
Qx: Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement: If my car has a (driver/passenger) side air bag, I don't need to wear my seat belt when (driving/riding).
Base: Total population age 16+
Since 1994, more than nine-in-ten drivers have disagreed with the statement that safety belts were unnecessary with air bags, increasing slightly from 92% in 1994 to 96% in 2003. By contrast, only 71% of non-drivers disagreed with the statement in 1994, increasing to 89% in 2000 and 87% in 2003.
Table 7. Agree Or Disagree:
Safety Belt Is Unnecessary With Air Bag
Drivers Versus Non-drivers, 1994-2003
Driver |
Non-driver |
||||||||||
| If my car has an airbag, I don't need to wear my seat belt | 1994
|
1996
|
1998
|
2000
|
2003
|
If my car has an airbag, I don't need to wear my seat belt | 1994 |
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
2003 |
| Agree | 6% |
4% |
4% |
4% |
3% |
Agree | 14% |
12% |
8% |
6% |
8% |
| Disagree | 92% |
94% |
94% |
95% |
96% |
Disagree | 71% |
79% |
82% |
89% |
87% |
| Don't know | 2% |
2% |
2% |
2% |
1% |
Don't know | 15% |
9% |
11% |
4% |
5% |
Qx: Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement: If my car has a (driver/passenger) side air bag, I don't need to wear my seat belt when (driving/riding).
Base: Total population age 16+
As in earlier years, those with air bags in their primary vehicles were slightly more likely to know that air bags do not eliminate the need for safety belts. Fully 97% with air bags in 2003 disagreed with the statement "If my car has a driver side air bag, I don't need to wear my seat belt when driving" compared with 94% of those without air bags in their primary vehicles.
Table 8.
Agree Or Disagree: Safety Belt Is Unnecessary When Air Bag Is Present
Primary Vehicle Comparison, 1994-2003
Have Air Bag |
Don’t Have Airbag |
||||||||||
| If my car has an airbag, I don’t need to wear my seat belt | 1994 |
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
2003 |
If my car has an airbag, I don’t need to wear my seat belt | 1994 |
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
2003 |
| Agree | 4% |
2% |
3% |
3% |
2% |
Agree | 6% |
5% |
4% |
4% |
5% |
| Disagree | 96% |
97% |
95% |
96% |
97% |
Disagree | 91% |
92% |
92% |
93% |
94% |
| Don’t know | 0% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
Don’t know | 3% |
3% |
4% |
3% |
2% |
Qx: Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement: If my car has a (driver/passenger) side air bag, I don't need to wear my seat belt when (driving/riding).
Base: Drivers whose primary vehicle is not a motorcycle
For those drivers who reported using their safety belt all of the time, there was no appreciable change from 1994 to 2003 in the proportion who agreed with the statement, "If my car has a driver side air bag, I don't need to wear my seat belt when driving.” In contrast, drivers who reported less frequent belt use became less likely over time to agree with the statement, although still more likely to agree with it than the all the time safety belt users.
Figure 24
Believe Safety Belt Unnecessary With Air Bag
By Belt Use, 1994-2003
![figure 24 - click [d] for long description](../images/fig24.jpg)
Qx: Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement: If my car has a (driver/passenger) side air bag, I don't need to wear my seat belt when (driving/riding).
Base: Drivers whose primary vehicle is not a motorcycle
Drivers with air bags in their primary vehicles continued to be more likely to use their safety belts than were those without air bags in their primary vehicles. In 2003, 85% of drivers with air bags reported that they used their safety belts all the time and 9% said they used them most of the time. By comparison, 80% of drivers whose primary vehicles did not have air bags said they used their safety belt all the time with an additional 10% reporting that they wore their belt most of the time.
Table 9.
Frequency Of Driver Safety Belt Use
By Whether Vehicle Has Air Bag, 1994-2003
Have Air Bag |
Don’t Have Airbag |
||||||||||
| Frequency of seat belt use | 1994 |
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
2003 |
Frequency of seat belt use | 1994 |
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
2003 |
| All times | 82% |
80% |
82% |
85% |
85% |
All times | 72% |
74% |
75% |
80% |
80% |
| Most times | 10% |
11% |
11% |
8% |
9% |
Most times | 14% |
13% |
13% |
10% |
10% |
| Sometimes | 4% |
5% |
4% |
3% |
3% |
Sometimes | 7% |
6% |
6% |
4% |
4% |
| Rarely/Never | 4% |
4% |
4% |
3% |
2% |
Rarely/Never | 8% |
6% |
7% |
5% |
7% |
Qx: Does the (car/truck/van) you normally drive have an air bag
Base: Drivers whose primary vehicle is not a motorcycle
Safety Concerns, 1996-2003
Although more than four-in-ten (43%) still expressed concerns about the safety of air bags, this proportion with concerns has steadily declined from 62% in 1996.
Figure 25
Have Safety Concerns About Air Bags, 1996-2003
![figure 25 - click [d] for long description](../images/fig25.jpg)
Qx: Do you have any concerns about the safety of air bags?
Base: Total population age 16+
Likelihood Of Injury To Adult From Air Bag, 1996-2003
In 2003, the question “How likely is it that an adult sitting in the front seat would be injured by an air bag when it opens normally?” was split into 2 questions specifying whether a safety belt was worn. The proportion who felt it was likely that an adult sitting in the front seat and wearing a seat belt would be injured by an air bag when it opens normally was 53%, similar to results obtained in previous years when the question did not refer to belt use status.
However, the proportion in 2003 who felt it was likely that an adult sitting in the front seat and NOT wearing a safety belt would be injured by an air bag when it opens normally was much larger (78%)6 .
Figure 26
Likelihood Of Adult Being Injured By An Air Bag, 1996-2003
![figure 26 - click [d] for long description](../images/fig26.jpg)
1996-2000 Qx: Based on what you know or have heard, how likely is it that an adult sitting in the front seat would be injured by an air bag when it opens normally?
2003 Qx: Based on what you know or have heard, how likely is it that an adult sitting in the front seat and wearing a seat belt would be injured by an air bag when it opens normally?
2003 Qx: Based on what you know or have heard, how likely is it that an adult sitting in the front seat and NOT wearing a seat belt would be injured by an air bag when it opens normally?
Base: Total population age 16+
Likelihood Of Injury To Child From Air Bag, 1996-2003
The proportion of the public that thought it was very likely (64%) or somewhat likely (21%) that a small child sitting in the front seat would be injured by an air bag when it opens normally increased slightly from 2000 to 2003. The combined very and somewhat likely percentages were the same in 1996, 1998 and 2000 (81%), but increased to 85% in 2003.
Figure 27
Likelihood Of Child Being Injured By An Air Bag, 1996-2003
![figure 27 - click [d] for long description](../images/fig27.jpg)
Qx: Based on what you know or have heard, how likely is it that a small child sitting in the front seat would be injured by an air bag when it opens normally?
Base: Total population age 16+
Likelihood Of Injury With Air Bag In Crash Involving Major Vehicle Damage, 1994-2003
In 2003, 43% of drivers felt an injury was unlikely in a crash involving major vehicle damage in an air bag-equipped vehicle, compared to 45% in 2000. At the same time 39% felt an injury was likely in such a crash, compared to 36% in 2000.
Figure 28
Likelihood Of Being Injured By Air Bag
In Crash With Major Vehicle Damage, 1994-2003
![figure 28 - click [d] for long description](../images/newf28.gif)
Qx: If you are driving in a vehicle that has an air bag and you get into an accident involving major vehicle damage, is it likely or unlikely that you would be injured?
Base: Drivers
As in previous years, younger drivers in 2003 were more likely than older adults to believe they would be injured if they had a serious crash in an air bag-equipped vehicle. All age groups showed an increased likelihood across the years to believe that they would be hurt in such a situation. In 1994, 12% in the 65+ age group thought injury likely. In 2003, the figure was 29%. Likewise, 37% of drivers 16-20 years old thought injury likely in 1994, while 53% thought this was the case in 2003.
Figure 29
Believe Injury With Air Bag Likely In Crash With Major Vehicle Damage By Age, 1994-2003
![figure 29 - click [d] for long description](../images/nwef29.jpg)
Qx: If you are driving in a vehicle that has an air bag and you get into an accident involving major vehicle damage, is it likely or unlikely that you would be injured?
Base: Drivers
Feeling Safer With Air Bags, 1996-2003
The public tended to feel safer with air bags in 2003 than they did in previous years. The proportion who said they felt safer in motor vehicles with air bags increased from 42% in 1996 to 53% in 2003.
Figure 30
Feel Safer, About The Same, Or Less Safe
With Air Bags, 1996-2003
![figure 30 - click [d] for long description](../images/fig30.jpg)
Qx: In general, do you feel safer in motor vehicles with air bags, about the same, or less safe in vehicles with air bags than those without air bags?
Base: Total population age 16+
CONCLUSIONS
Despite concerns about their safety, there is broad public support for air bags. The proportion of primary vehicles with air bags continues to increase. Most consumers said they would like their next vehicle to have driver and passenger air bags. Only a small percentage said they felt less safe in vehicles with air bags than in vehicles without air bags. It appears that most of the public wants the added safety that air bags offer.
The public does not regard air bags as a substitute for safety belts, in fact, the presence of air bags in vehicles has not caused a decline in safety belt usage. On the contrary, those with air bags in their primary vehicles are more likely than those without air bags to wear their safety belts.
5The number does not equal the sum of the components in the Figure due to rounding.
6The number does not equal the sum of the components in the Figure due to rounding.