Airbag On/OFF Switch According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( www.nhtsa.gov ) ,airbags reduce the risk of dying in a frontal crash by 30%, and they have saved thousands of lives since they were first installed in American vehicles. However, like all safety features, it is important that drivers and passengers are seated properly for them to save lives.
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Rear-facing child seats should NEVER be placed in front of an airbag. The safest place for all children up to age 12 is the back seat.
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All passengers should insure that they are always at least ten inches away from the airbag.
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Remember that airbags are a supplemental safety feature. Passengers still need to wear seat belts. The majority of people killed or injured by airbags were not wearing their seat belts.
Some people can apply to NHTSA to have an airbag on/off switch installed in their vehicle if they, or their passengers meet any of the following conditions:
1. If a rear-facing infant car seat must be placed in the front seat, because there is no back seat or the back seat is too small for the car seat (passenger side airbag only).
2. If a child 12 years old or younger must ride in the front seat because the child has a condition that requires frequent medical monitoring in the front seat (passenger side airbag only).
3. If either the driver or the passenger have certain medical conditions where the risks of a deploying airbag outweigh the risks of impacting the steering column, dashboard, or windshield without an airbag.
4. If the driver cannot position themself to properly operate the vehicle with the breastbone at least 10 inches away from the center of the steering wheel airbag cover (driver side airbag only).
(Information from www.safercar.gov, a website operated by NHTSA. More detailed information can also be found at this website)
If you qualify to have a airbag on/off switch installed, you should start by reading over NHTSA’s websites regarding airbag safety and airbag on/off switches. From NHTSA’s website you can download the airbag switch application, and learn how to submit it.
Once you have received your authorization letter from NHTSA, contact your nearest Airbag Service location, and they can schedule you to have the switch installed.
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