Honda safety engineer earns U.S. Government Award for Safety Engineering Excellence

Honda Safety Engineer Eric Heitkamp has received the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Department of Transportation—the U.S. Government Award for Safety Engineering Excellence—for his work in leading the creation of a front passenger airbag design.

Designed to decrease the chance of serious brain injury, the new passenger front airbag technology is now standard equipment in the Acura MDX, Acura TLX, and Honda Pilot. An uninflated panel catches and decelerates the occupant's head with less force, while also directing it inward between two inflated chambers to cradle and protect the head.