The Efforts of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the Development of Advanced Passive Protection Systems and Child Restraint Systems

This report presents an overview of the Occupant Packaging research program within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The report discusses the program's efforts to establish the feasibilities of practical methods for providing the highest levels of occupant protection. In the area of frontal impact protection, work is progressing on advanced driver air bag systems, on a bag and bolster approach to passenger protection, on the development of improved inflation techniques for inflatables and on the passive application of the air belt concept. Efforts in the other areas of side, rear, and rollover protection are discussed as are NHTSA's efforts in child restraint research.