MENU
SEARCHKnee airbags have a nominal effect on reducing injuries and may even increase injury risk in some cases, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Knee air bags only slightly reduce injury risk, according to new findings by IIHS.
Photo courtesy of IIHS.
Knee airbags have a nominal effect on reducing injuries and may even increase injury risk in some cases, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The institute evaluated injury measures from 400 frontal crash tests to determine if injuries were less likely when vehicles were equipped with knee airbags. The institute also examined outcomes from real-world crash reports across 14 states, comparing injury risk in vehicles with and without knee airbags.
The findings linked to real-world crashes showed that knee airbags reduced overall injury risk by just half a percentage point, dropping from 7.9% to 7.4%.
As for the crash test data, the institute's thorough evaluation showed that knee airbags had only a small effect on injury measures recorded by dummies in driver-side small overlap front and moderate overlap front crash tests.
Iin the small overlap test, knee airbags were associated with increased injury risk for lower leg injuries and right femur injuries. However, head injury risk was slightly reduced in the small overlap test when knee airbags deployed.
Finally, the airbags had no effect on injury measures in the moderate overlap test.
IIHS notes that when it comes to knee airbags reducing injuries, the evidence is not statistically significant. However, the study did not look specifically at crashes in which people were not using seat belts, and it is possible that knee airbags would help unbelted occupants in real-world crashes, according to the institute.
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
Read More →
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Read More →
What fleets capture to improve safety can also expose them in litigation, forcing leaders to rethink how data is managed, stored, and shared.
Read More →
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Read More →
While serious crashes are declining, a rise in minor incidents and ongoing risk hotspots underscore the need for continued fleet safety investment.
Read More →
Fleets have more driver data than ever, so why isn't behavior changing? Training requires more than reports and coaching — it requires real-world practice.
Read More →
A two-part conversation with Stefan Heck on how AI is transforming the fight against distracted driving. As fleets adopt smarter tools, the focus shifts from reacting to preventing risk. In Part 1, we look at where AI is making an impact for fleets today.
Read More →
More people on foot means more risk for drivers. These pedestrian safety tips can help prevent serious injuries and keep everyone safer on the road.
Read More →
Safer crews. Fewer incidents. Better uptime. Learn how driver-assist technology is changing the way vocational fleets operate.
Read More →
An 11% drop in pedestrian fatalities in early 2025 signals progress in U.S. road safety, but elevated death rates and ongoing risks underscore the need for continued action from fleets and policymakers.
Read More →
