Yes, some people may be killed by air bags, but OVERALL the death rate drops:
"From 1986 through April 2001, fewer than 7,000 lives had been saved by air bags. An estimated 246 people (including 61 unconfirmed air bag-related fatalities), mostly drivers and children, had been killed by air bags during the same period."
In my view children's fatality and injury rate would be reduced if parents ensured they are properly seated and strapped in, and baby cots not incorrectly positioned on the front seat without the air bag first being deactivated.
Is this your source of NHTSA info: (one version:
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? There an NHTSA manager is quoted "They only protect adults in a frontal crash and they don't protect you in side- or rear-impact crashes."
This is no longer true as cars have bags at the side and in all kinds of places.
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The serious-injury risk drops, too:
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For some reason I found it very difficult to find non-US info.
DAS
For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling