WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's new side-impact crash standards are expected to be released Sept. 28. According to a report from the Detroit News, the proposed regulations have already been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget. These standards don't mandate the specific use of side-impact airbags, the Detroit News reported. Instead, they prescribe maximum sustainable injury levels by occupants involved in a side-impact collision. To comply with the standards, automakers will most likely rely on additional airbags. The tighter standards are also expected to spur automakers to strengthen doors, roof rails, rocker panels and pillars. As it's now written, NHTSA's proposal would require a 50 percent level of compliance by Sept. 1, 2010 and compliance by all vehicles manufactured on or after Sept. 1, 2011.