Mr. M’s story is a compelling illustration of the critical importance of safety features—in his case of curtain airbags.  Curtain airbags deploy from the top of the door rails above the side windows to form a cushion between the head of the driver or passenger and the window, and stay in place if the car rolls. In late 2007, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) mandated that beginning September 1, 2009, all automakers must phase in over a four-year period additional side-impact protection as a standard feature.

 

The NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) expect that torso-protecting side-impact airbags as well as head-protecting side curtain airbags will “almost certainly” be required to meet this new standard.

 

Here is Mr. M’s story in his own words:

 

“The accident happened this past sunny warm Mother’s Day at about 10:50 am.  My wife and I were driving east on 64th Avenue approaching the 144th Street controlled intersection (in Surrey B.C.).  There are two east and westbound lanes on 64th with left turn lanes at the intersection.  As I approached 144th Street, my light was red.  I stopped and the car in the lane to my right also stopped.  On green, the car beside me proceeded across 144 Street – I usually try not to be the first one across because of light runners!

 

As I got about two cars lengths into the intersection, my wife screamed, “He’s going to hit us!” and with that there was an explosion and white light as the curtain airbag went off.  Then we were along for the ride ending up on the southeast corner of the intersection.  When we finally stopped, my wife was screaming “My side my side!” the seatbelt having ‘pre-tensioned’, pinning her in her seat and pressing on her cracked rib.

 

The vehicle that hit us while running the red light at 60 to 70 km/h with no braking skid marks was an 80’s Ford three-quarter ton pick up.  The driver, who was unbelted, hit the windshield and was hospitalized with head injuries.  Though thoroughly traumatized, my wife and I were both conscious and coherent.  While we sat in the car after the accident, the firemen congratulated us on the ownership of such a fine, sturdy vehicle.  My wife and I were belted inside a very strong passenger compartment.

 

The curtain airbag on the driver’s side deployed as did the driver’s seat airbag and there’s no doubt that these saved me from either fatal injuries or at least severe head injury.”