Airbags

What's all this I hear about on-off switches for airbags?
On-off switches should be considered only rarely. However, some circumstances warrant deactivating the airbag. For example, deactivating the airbag would be warranted when:

• a child seat can only be placed in the front seat, (e.g., a two-seater car or truck);
• a medical or other condition outweighs the advantages of airbags, and
• when the driver is unable to sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel.

To have an on-off switch installed, you must be able to prove that one of the above conditions applies to you. Remember, if the conditions change, you should switch the airbag on for maximum safety.

How can an I get on-off switch?
To be eligible, you must meet any one of the three requirements listed above. Applications are available at dealerships, auto repair shops, and by contacting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's hotline at 1-800-424-9393. You may also obtain this form from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web Site.

If a dealer will not honor an authorization from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to disable an airbag, can I do it myself?
Airbags operate on a highly sophisticated system and tampering could cause them to accidentally deploy, putting you in great danger. Contact another dealer or an independent service garage. Never try to make adjustments yourself.

If the airbags are switched off, does that change the way the safety belts work?
Some safety belts are intended to work specifically with airbags. Your dealer or mechanic can help you get the information you need to know before you make a decision.

How do airbags work?
Airbags work by preventing your upper body from striking the steering wheel, dashboard and windshield in a head-on collision. Airbags will deploy in most side-collisions, but are not effective in rear-end collisions or if the vehicle rolls over. A sensor is activated when the car strikes a solid object. This sensor sends an electric current, initiating a chemical release of non-toxic nitrogen gas that causes the airbag to inflate. The deployment is instantaneous and the airbag will deflate Immediateely, preventing the risk of suffocation.

I am able to adjust the position of my steering wheel. Which position is most likely to minimize injury but provide the greatest protection from an airbag?
Tilt the steering wheel toward your breastbone. Do not tilt it toward your abdomen or toward your head and neck.

I am in the market for a new car. Are there any new models without airbags?
All cars manufactured after 1998 are required to have dual airbags (driver-side and passenger-side). All new light trucks, beginning in 1999, must also have dual airbags.

I know that all children under age 12 should ride in the back seat, especially if the car is equipped with airbags. What about the elderly; are they safe with airbags?
The elderly, like all other passengers and drivers, should be properly restrained with the seat as far back as possible and the individual’s back firmly supported. All occupants should also keep arms and feet away from where the airbags will deploy.

Why is it so important to sit at least 10 inches away from the hub of the steering wheel?
This gives the airbag plenty of room to completely inflate before the driver's body moves forward. Otherwise, the driver may be hit by the inflating bag, which inflates at a speed of up to 200 miles per hour.

Why is it so important not to have rear-facing child safety seats in the front seat?
The force of nearly 3,000 pounds of pressure from a crash would thrust the child forward, crushing it between the safety seat and the back of the car seat. Never place a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side airbag.

Airbags still seem to pose risks. What changes are being made to make them safer?
Airbags are being redesigned to protect occupants who are too close to them before they have inflated completely. They are also being designed to sense the severity of the crash and adjust the inflation rate accordingly.

I’ve heard that some airbags smoke when they inflate. Is this a fire hazard?
Cornstarch or powder is packed inside the airbags to lubricate them and ensure proper inflation. The smoke is actually the cornstarch or powder and poses no fire hazard.

I hear that babies get injured by airbags.
Babies can be seriously injured or killed if they are not properly restrained. To avoid airbag injury, place children under 40 pounds in a child safety seat located in the back seat. Infants under 20 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing child safety seat located in the back seat. Never place a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side airbag.

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