|
Air Bag Fact Sheet
|
| Air Bag On-Off Switches - Facts |
|
| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:20:38 |
| Rating |
 16 ( -2 -12.5% ) |
|
|
Description:
They are the most practical solution for preserving the benefits of air bags while minimizing or eliminating the risks.
Switches will be available beginning January 19, 1998.
Only people fitting into one of four risk profiles, or who transport someone in one of the profile groups, may obtain switches.
The four risk profiles are:
Those who cannot avoid placing rear-facing infant seats in the front passenger seat.
Those who have a medical condition that places them at specific risk.
Those who cannot adjust their driver's position to keep back 10 inches from the steering wheel.
Those who cannot avoid situations -- such as a car pool -- that require a child 12 or under to ride in the front seat.
People who do not fit into the risk profiles do not need a switch.
Drivers and their passengers must always wear their seat belts. They should sit with a 10-inch clearance between the air bag cover and the center of their breastbone.
Infants in rear-facing child seats should never be placed in front of active passenger-side air bags. The safest place in a vehicle for infants and children age 12 and under is the back seat, whether the vehicle has air bags or not. Adults are responsible for making sure that children are properly buckled and ride in safety or booster seats that are appropriate for their weight and height.
Advanced air bags are the ultimate solution to eliminate risk from air bag systems. NHTSA will begin rulemaking in the first half of 1998 that will lead to these advanced air bag designs.
How To Get An On-Off Switch
Obtain and read a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration information brochure and a request form. Both will be available at vehicle dealerships, repair shops, state motor vehicle offices and other locations.
Fill out the request form and send it to NHTSA. Vehicle owners must certify that they have read the brochure and that they, or someone they transport in their vehicle, are in one of four groups of people at risk.
NHTSA will send an approval letter to the vehicle owner.
Take the approval letter to a vehicle dealership or other service outlet to have an on-off switch installed. The switch that is installed will only be able to deactivate the air bag(s) that affects the person in the risk group. The service outlet will inform NHTSA when the work is done.
Source: NHTSA 11/10/1998 |
|
