Toyota announced today that, starting with new models to be launched shortly, all of its new passenger vehicle models in Japan would come standard with side-impact-reducing SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) side airbags for front seats and SRS curtain shield airbags. When side collisions occur, an SRS side airbag built into the front seat deploys, reducing the risk of upper body injury for front seat occupants. Furthermore, SRS curtain shield airbags, located between the front pillars and the roof-side rails, deploy to the sides of all occupants’ heads to form a curtain-like barrier, reducing impact from the side windows, pillars and other internal objects, as well as from external objects such as telephone poles.
According to a study conducted in the United States1, SRS side airbags and SRS curtain shield airbags reduced deaths from side collisions by 37%. In the case of Japan, 73% of serious side collisions result in injuries to the head and upper body.
