Crash tests show benefit of side air bags

If ever there was doubt that extra safety features are worth the additional cost, test results released Sunday by the insurance industry confirm optional side air bags are well worth it. Versions of the 2006 Toyota Prius and six minivans made by DaimlerChrysler and General Motors that were evaluated without side air bags got poor marks in side-impact tests. The same vehicles, when tested with the optional air bags, all showed improvements. The Prius even earned the IIHS's top score in side protection. Unfortunately, even side airbags couldn't help the Chevrolet Uplander and its corporate clones from dismal ratings. During both side-impact tests, the rear seats broke free from the floor. The institute said in one crash test in an Uplander with side air bags, the seat in which the rear passenger dummy had been placed broke free from the four points where it was attached to the floor. In a second test without side air bags, two of the four seat attachment points broke.