I can't belive no-one has been taken aback by your airbags are useless comment! Side airbags? Curtain airbags? All of these are proven to reduce that chance of brain damage and death in various impacts.

"Research conducted in the USA estimates that head protecting airbags can reduce driver deaths in the event of a side impact crash by close to 40%*."

http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/curtain_airbags.php