Motorists are much more likely to be saved by an air bag than killed by one. Since 1987, air bags have saved an estimated 2,844 lives-more than 800 in 1997 alone. About one-third of all cars and light trucks have air bags. As more vehicles are equipped with air bags, more lives will be saved.

Understandably, people get concerned when deaths are blamed on air bags. Ninety-nine deaths have been attributed to air bags since 1987.

Nearly all of these deaths could have been prevented by following these simple precautions:

• Wear a seat belt. Most of the adults killed by air bags were either not wearing safety belts or wearing them improperly.

• Put children in the back seat. Two-thirds of the children killed by air bags were too young to be riding in the front seat, improperly belted or not belted at all. Until they are 4-feet-11 and able to put their feet on the car floor, children under 13 should ride in the back seat. They should always wear seat belts.

• Sit at least 10 inches from the steering wheel. Most people under 5 feet tall can do this by tilting the wheel down, raising the seat, sitting on a pad or using pedal extenders. (For the names of dealers in your state who sell pedal extenders, call the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association at 813-932-8566.)

• Move the passenger seat back as far as possible from the dashboard. Also, keep your feet off the dashboard and objects away from your face.