Air bags deflated

WASHINGTON DC: The United States' National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will allow carmakers to install depowered air bags following concern over the number of air bag-related deaths of children.

According to the administration, the use of less powerful air bags, which deploy with between 20 percent and 35 percent less force than existing units, could save as many as 101 children and small adults a year.

But the trade-off is that the administration estimates an additional 50 to 431 adults not wearing seat belts could be killed a year.