GM Unveils Unique Air Bag

MILFORD (WWJ) -- General Motors is rethinking airbags, with a new bag aimed at protecting the driver and front-seat passenger in a side impact crash.

"This is a very unique airbag," said GM airbag engineer Scott Thomas.  "It honestly is a new horizon for restraints."

The front-center airbag comes out of the right hand side of the driver seat, in a side impact crash or rollover.  It aims to protect occupants in side impacts that hit the opposite side of the car.

Video:  GM demonstrates front-center airbag.

"It helps restrain that occupant, and helps provide between occupants if two are present," said Thomas.  "In addition, we're deploying it in rollover events, and it can act as a cusion in a chaotic rollover."

Side-impact crashes have very high fatality and injury rates.  Even belted occupants can be pushed into parts of the cars interior, or other occupants.  Putting an airbag in the front and center can prevent this, and keep people in the best position to survive a crash.

When airbags debuted in vehicles twenty years ago, they were immediately seen as both life savers, and injury risks.  Technology has increased the life saving potential, and decreased the danger.

"The level of sophistication and technology is absolutely amazing compared to where we were just a few years ago," says Dave Cole, the chairman-emeritus of the Center for Auto Research.

There are now side airbags, curtain airbags and knee airbags.  Even some small cars can have as many as ten airbags.

GM's front-center airbag will debut on the 2013 versions of the company's crossover vehicles, including the Chevrolet Terrain, GMC Envoy and Buick Enclave.

General Motors developed this device in partnership with airbag supplier Takata.  It took three years of research, and came out of a review of accident statistics that showed there was a need for this type of protection.

"Most people, I think, think of airbags as a balloon in a car that just blows up fast," said Cole.  "It's not that.  It's much more highly sophisticated."

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