DEVELOPMENT OF ROLLOVER CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG SYSTEM. IN: OCCUPANT AND VEHICLE RESPONSES IN ROLLOVERS

More than half the occupants killed in rollover accidents are totally or partially ejected from the vehicle. In this chapter, from a comprehensive text about occupant and vehicle responses in rollovers, the authors report on their work developing a rollover curtain shield airbag system to address this type of injury. Their system is made up of curtain shield airbags to help reduce the possibility of ejection of occupants wearing seat belts within the compartment at the time of rollover; the system also includes a rollover sensor. The authors emphasize that the use of a seat belt is essential for this system and is still the primary and most effective measure for reducing the likelihood of an occupant being ejected from a vehicle during rollover. The authors also note that the system described in this chapter has been installed on the Toyota Land Cruiser 100 and the Lexus LX470 vehicles manufactured from the summer of 2002 forward.