Editorial: Regulators need better standards

Tuesday, April 21, 1998 | 10:11 a.m.

The Center for Auto Safety, Consumer Federation of America, Parents for Safer Air Bags and Public Citizen all called Monday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to implement new crash test standards to prevent deployed air bags from killing, especially children and smaller women. Automakers assert they have tested air bags above and beyond what's required by the federal government. Because designing air bags is so complex, automakers note, it takes time to make sure they work properly before they're installed.

The issue of air bags unintentionally killing people isn't an insignificant concern. The government has said 96 people have been killed by air bags in low-speed accidents that they otherwise would have survived. Government regulators will propose new test standards in coming months that could be phased in for the 2002 model year.

Since a million new vehicles enter the market every month, the government should move with all deliberate speed to make sure the new standard is incorporated as soon as possible.