FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warned Friday that air bags can be lethal to children who aren't wearing seat belts. "This is not a false alarm," reports TIME's William McWhirter. "These airbags pack quite a wallop. Small children who aren't strapped in are very vulnerable to trauma from the impact of both the crash and the airbag. Common sense should tell parents to keep children out of the front seat, anyway." The NHTSA is investigating the car accident deaths of six children - ages four to nine - to see if their injuries were caused by inflating air bags. The agency has drafted a 200-page internal report that will be the basis for discussions with automakers, air bag manufacturers and other groups looking into air bag safety. All new cars and trucks must have dual air bags by the 1999 model year.