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The evolution of passive safety from the initial application of seatbelts, through the development of supplemental occupant protection mechanisms, including driver and passenger airbags, knee bolsters, thorax and head airbags, sensors, and vehicle stability control suggests how the trend toward greater inter-operation of various technology disciplines leads to new fields of safety. This paper will provide an historical overview of passive restraints and most of the components that comprise the restraint system, take a look at where the industry is today and the influences that have taken us to this point, and finally project into the future how passive restraints will continue to play a significant role as active safety systems evolve into the future.

In its course of development passive safety has reached a high standard. Vehicle structures guarantee acceptable decelerations of the meanwhile stiffed car compartment; the car interior has been defused by paddings and an adequate styling and the restraint system has been equipped with modern and efficient subsystems. Just the first glance to up-to-date real-world accident statistics and to the development of traffic accidents over the years makes clear that this high standard in vehicle safety reflects in a reduced number of occupant injuries. The number of occupants with fatal injuries in traffic accidents in the FRG may here serve as an example. The period from 1970 to 1992 saw a reduction of casualities from about 19.000 to about 7.000 people. In the annex figure 1 illustrates this development. Considering resultant costs from injuries the effects of improved vehicle safety become even clearer.In a study [4] H.