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Air Bag Update
Auto dealers and repair shops began installing air bag cutoff
switches in vehicles on January 19, 1998 for owners completing
a four-step application process through the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA). Click
here for air bag on-off switches.
Actions
leading to the cutoff switch ruling
NHTSA began issuing warnings in 1991 regarding the potential risk
of air bag injuries, especially to young children. In 1993 information
was required on car visors and in owners manuals warning drivers
to put rear-facing infant seats in the back seats of vehicles equipped
with passenger-side air bags. This information was also required
on child safety seats.
NHTSA issued final rules on new warning labels in the fall of
1996. The new rules called for highly visible warning labels in
all new
cars and light trucks by early 1997. The labels contained a clear
message stating that an air bag can injure or kill children age
12 and under, that children should always ride in the back seat,
and to never put an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in
front of an air bag. These labels are affixed to sun visors. In
addition, new vehicles are required to have a warning label affixed
to the center of the dashboard at the time of delivery, which may
be removed only by the vehicle owner. Similar warning labels also
appear on child safety seats.
Federal air bag requirements were
phased in over several years.
90% of 1997 model year cars were required to be equipped with
air bags, with full compliance beginning with the 1998 model year.
Air
bags were required in all 1999 model light trucks and vans.
Cutoff switch requirements
The overwhelming majority of American car owners are not candidates
for the installation of on-off air bag switches. Most injuries
are preventable if drivers and passengers buckle up, with drivers
keeping at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel and front
seat passengers pushing their seat back as far as possible.
NHTSA approves air bag on-off switches on a case-by-case basis.
Liability issue
According to NHTSA, all vehicle manufacturers who produce on-off
switches agreed to indemnify their dealers for all causes of action
other than negligence. Manufacturers can provide the specifics of
indemnification. In any case, the switch installer may require a
vehicle owner to sign a waiver that releases the business from liability
if a switch is installed. In addition not all installers work on
all makes and models. For example, a Ford dealership may limit on-off
switch installation to Ford vehicles only.
Occupant protection standards
NHTSA passed regulations upgrading occupant protection standards.
These standards also require more comprehensive crash test procedures.
The rule follows a Congressional mandate to improve protection offered
by air bags while minimizing the potential to cause harm upon deployment.
The strength of the new standards is that they require minimum
levels of protection for unbelted and belted occupants in high-speed
crashes while reducing the risk of air bag-induced injury and injury
to out-of-position occupants (predominantly unbelted).
NHTSA also has undertaken an aggressive research program to improve
air bag technology. Advanced air bag technology includes concepts
such as recessed mounting, lighter air bag covers, lighter weight
fabrics, and sensors to detect the weight of an occupant.
On May 12, 2000, NHTSA published a final rule that amended Standard
No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection, to require that future air bags
be designed to create less risk of serious air bag-induced injuries
than current air bags and to provide improved frontal crash protection
for all occupants through advanced air bag technology.
During the first stage phase-in (September 1, 2003–August
31, 2006), increasing percentages of motor vehicles will be required
to meet requirements for minimizing air bag risks. This will be
met primarily by either a sensor that automatically turns off an
air bag in the presence of a young child or deploying it in a manner
much less likely to cause serious or fatal injury to an out-of-position
occupant.
During the second stage (September 1, 2007–August 31, 2010)
higher speed crash tests that employ the use of varied-sized dummies
will be phased-in, simulating higher speed crashes in order to develop
safer, more effective air bags. Starting in 2007, an increasing
percentage of all new vehicles will be required to pass the rigid
barrier crash test with belted male dummies at 35 mph instead of
30 mph. This part of the standard will be fully implemented by 2010.
Air bag effectiveness
The fact remains that air bags save lives. Most air bag-related
fatalities are due to driver or passenger error, meaning that
the occupant was not buckled or improperly restrained.
In some cases the occupant was out-of-position such as sitting
on the lap of another passenger.
Air bag risk is minimal when a driver sits 10–12 inches from
the steering wheel. Short-statured drivers should explore options
such as pedal extenders that allow them to sit farther back. Contact
the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association for information
at 1-800-833-0427.
Side air bags
Side impact air bags provide significant safety benefits to adults
in side impact crashes. More and more car manufacturers are offering
them as standard or optional equipment. Some cars and larger SUVs
are being equipped with inflatable curtains designed to protect
rear-seat occupants’ heads.
According to a recent J.D. Power survey of 50,000 people, 34% said
they “definitely want” side air bags, up from 18% in
1997. Another J.D. Power survey reveals that side air bags top the
list of 19 vehicle features that respondents said they wanted.
For a list of vehicles with side impact air bag head protection
systems, go to www.highwaysafety.org/ratings/side_airbag_info/default.html.
For updated airbag statistics, go to www.iihs.org/research/topics/airbag_stats.html
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Insurance industry statistics show that approximately
50,000 air bags are stolen annually, resulting in an annual
loss of more than $50 million to vehicle owners and their
insurers. A new air bag, which retails for about $1,000 from
a car dealer, costs between $50–200 in the black market.
(NHTSA)
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