Air bag research push

CHICAGO: The United States big three carmakers -- Ford, General Motors and Chrysler -- have agreed to accelerate research into "smart" air bags that could detect when children are in seats, Reuters reported.

This follows the deaths of 30 children in the U.S. over the past few years because of the force of air bag deployments.

In the latest accident a baby was killed in the front passenger seat of a Volkswagen Golf after the air bag deployed in a low-speed accident.

Many carmakers are now warning parents to seat all children under 12 in the back of vehicles equipped with air bags.