Introduction
The aim of this study is to summarize by means of meta-analysis
empirical evidence on the overall effect of frontal airbags on driver
fatalities and on factors that contribute to the size and direction of
the effect. Frontal airbags aim at preventing serious injuries from
impacts of the driver’s or passenger’s head or upper body against
the steering wheel or other parts of the interior of the vehicle in
frontal collisions. In some countries (e.g. USA, Australia) frontal
airbags for drivers and front-seat passengers are mandatory equipment
in all new vehicles. In Germany nearly all new vehicles are
equipped with frontal airbags, 96% of all new vehicles are equipped
with a driver airbag, 93% of all new vehicles are equipped with a
front-seat passenger airbag (Klanner et al., 2004a, 2004b), although
no such legislation exists.