General Motors is set to bring the industry’s first front center airbag to its 2013 model year Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse crossovers. Mounted on the right side of the driver’s seat, the tubular bag deploys between the two front seats, near the center of the vehicle. According to GM, the energy-absorbing cushion helps aid in the prevention of injuries caused during a side-impact crash, or during a rollover. The bag remains tethered to the driver’s seat during a collision, and protects front occupants from colliding with each other or parts of the vehicle.
According to GM’s analysis of statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System database, far-side impact crashes accounted for 11 percent of belted front occupant fatalities from 2004 to 2009 (involving model year 1999 or newer vehicles). This same scenario, where the occupant is on the non-struck side of the vehicle, also accounted for 29 percent of all belted front occupant fatalities in side-impact crashes.
“The front center air bag is not required by federal regulation, and no other air bag in passenger vehicles today offers the type of restraint and cushioning this air bag is designed to provide for front occupants,” said Scott Thomas, senior staff engineer in GM’s advanced restraint systems. GM has recently been at the forefront of airbag usage. The compact Chevrolet Cruze sedan, along with the new subcompact Sonic sedan and hatchback, each come with 10 airbags as standard equipment.
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