When did dual front airbags become mandatory?

When did dual front airbags become mandatory?

• A. 1998
• B. 2005
• C. 1992
• D. 2010

Answer: (A)

Safety features can be tied to regulatory timelines, so this question is about when a standard was put in place for dual front airbags. In the United States, the requirement for dual front airbags—one for the driver and one for the front passenger—as standard equipment became mandatory starting with the 1998 model year under federal safety standard FMVSS 208. That means by 1998, new vehicles had to come equipped with both airbags. Earlier years did not mandate dual fronts for all new cars, and later years simply reflect the continuation of that established rule. So 1998 is the year the mandate took effect. In practice, this matters because vehicles built before 1998 may not have dual front airbags, which affects how you assess risk and approach risk after an extrication.

Safety features can be tied to regulatory timelines, so this question is about when a standard was put in place for dual front airbags. In the United States, the requirement for dual front airbags—one for the driver and one for the front passenger—as standard equipment became mandatory starting with the 1998 model year under federal safety standard FMVSS 208. That means by 1998, new vehicles had to come equipped with both airbags. Earlier years did not mandate dual fronts for all new cars, and later years simply reflect the continuation of that established rule. So 1998 is the year the mandate took effect. In practice, this matters because vehicles built before 1998 may not have dual front airbags, which affects how you assess risk and approach risk after an extrication.