Seat Belts, Air Bags, Other Features Have Saved 329,000 Lives, Government

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DETROIT (AP) - Seat belts, air bags and other vehicle safety features have saved 329,000 lives since 1960, according to a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
More than half of those lives were saved by seat belts, the report said. In addition to seat belts and air bags, the report evaluated child safety seats, energy-absorbing steering columns, improved roof and side protection and shatter-resistant windshields.

"Thousands of our friends, neighbors and family members are alive today because of these safety innovations," Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said.

According to the study, the number of lives saved annually from safety devices increased from 115 per year in 1960 to 25,000 per year in 2002.

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