NHTSA rules on side curtain airbags

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed new rules that would require automakers to improve side curtain airbags by making them cover more of the window, stay inflated longer and possibly be tethered to keep occupants inside the vehicle during a rollover. Approximately 6,200 die annually from side window ejections, and NHTSA wants to see better airbags on 20 percent of automakers’ fleets by 2014 and total compliance by 2017. The cost of a compliant system is estimated at $300 for cars currently without side airbags, more for vehicles with three rows of seats.