Air bags–California

"This 'Bag Lady' Likes Them Filled with Air"

"Rosemary Shahan jokingly tells San Diego audiences that she is a 'bag lady.'

But don't expect to find Shahan on a downtown street corner, pushing a shopping cart loaded with bags full of aluminum cans and old newspapers. She's more likely to be seen in a hearing room in Sacramento or Washington pushing her favorite cause–automobile air bags.

"Two years ago, Shahan led the successful lobbying effort for the state's 'lemon law,' which requires auto manufacturers to take back new cars that develop serious mechanical problems. [now] She has become a tireless advocate of car air bags.

If Shahan had her way, new cars would have both seat belts and air bags, moves that safety advocates say would dramatically reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from auto accidents. Last year, nearly 43,000 people were killed in car crashes.

Her jokes notwithstanding, Shahan has a ready explanation of her fervor on the air bag issue. 'We have groups to save whales, seals and snail darters, so we ought to have one to do something for humans, too,' she said."

– Los Angeles Times, July 31, 1984

 

"Hearing before the State of California Senate Committee on Health and Welfare"

Los Angeles, California November 13, 1983

California State Senator Dianne Watson, at the request of the CARS Foundation, chaired a legislative hearing that led to the introduction of first-in-the-nation legislation to require a state to purchase an air-bag equipped fleet of vehicles. Senator Watson's bill would have required California to phase in driver-side air bags in the entire state-purchased fleet. This fleet would have provided important real-world data about the performance of air bags, before they were installed in millions of vehicles.

However, the measure died, under heavy fire from auto manufacturers. Years later, when problems with some air bag designs caused deaths and injuries, auto manufacturers complained they were not provided sufficient opportunity to develop reliable air bag systems tested in real-world conditions.

 

"Air bags, seat belts needed on new cars, state's doctors say"

"All new cars and small trucks sold in California should be equipped with both inflatable air bags and a seat belt/shoulder harness safety system, says the California Medical Association.

The 33,000-member physicians' organization, through its governing council, has adopted a policy position calling for such a requirement. Only seat belts/shoulder harnesses are now required under federal law. Air bag legislation is expected to be introduced when the California Legislature reconvenes in January."

– California Medical Association News Release, issued October 11, 1883, reflecting a change in the CMA's position regarding air bags, after CARS Foundation president Shahan met with the CMA's Governing Board, and helped persuade them to drop their opposition to air bags.