Evaluation of Current Energy-Absorbing Steering Assemblies

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration staff evaluated the actual costs, benefits and crash performance of current energy-absorbing steering assemblies as part of its review of existing major regulations. The evaluation was based on statistical analyses of Fatal Accident Reporting System, National Crash Severity Study and Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation data, cost analyses of production steering assemblies and review of test results. Energy-absorbing steering assemblies have significantly reduced deaths and serious injuries and they are cost-effective. Nevertheless, many serious injuries to the thorax and other body regions still occur with the current systems.