The air I am referring to is the air in airbags. Airbags are a supplemental (secondary) restraint to the vehicle seat belt. They have saved many lives and reduced many injuries in car crashes. For the most optimum protection, a seat belt must be worn. The seat belt helps spread the crash forces over a larger portion of the body and across the strongest part of the body. Plus, it helps the occupant "ride down" the crash, reducing energy absorption. Airbags have to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Standards and encompass an enormous amount of testing in all kinds of scenarios. Working together (Technical Working Group), auto makers go above and beyond the standards to include testing for high risk occupants; those who are smaller, out of position, unbelted, etc. Their efforts help reduce the risk of injury. These test protocols help manufacturers develop more technology to deploy airbags at slower speeds...

All states have laws regarding child restraints. Some are very specific and some are vague. http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/childsafety_laws.html If you follow the laws in some states, you might be putting your child in jeopardy when transporting them in your car. For example, in Florida, once your child turns 4 years old, it is permissible to allow them to ride in the adult seat belt. It is highly doubtful that any four year old is tall enough to fit correctly in an adult seat belt. On the other hand, California, just improved their child restraint laws, which better protect children in motor vehicles.http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_19551093#.TuoB1kIh91Y.mailto Most states have room for improvement in their laws. If all of them followed the NHTSA guidelines and worded their laws accordingly, state occupant protection programs would qualify for federal grant money to educate communities about Child Passenger Safety. Education is the key to reducing death and injury to children...