AIR BAG SWITCH NOT FOR EVERYONE

Auto dealers and manufacturers have reservations about a new regulation that permits the installation of an air bag cutoff switch. The switch would allow drivers to temporarily deactivate the bag in their car.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's ruling changes air bag regulations so that certain motorists can install on-off switches for their vehicle air bags.

The rule changes allow for the on-off switch installation only in those cars where children must sit in the front seat because of car pooling, medical problems that require monitoring, or a lack of a back seat in the vehicle.

Shorter drivers who sit within a 10-inch deployment zone also may apply for the on-off switch.

"We have had numerous inquiries about the new switch," said Tim Clifton, a service adviser at Auffenburg Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth dealership. "Some want more information, some wanted to make an appointment to have the switches installed. A lot of people want to know more about it."

The story is the same at Ford Groves Motor Co. "We don't expect many people to request the switch," said a spokesman. "But we get a lot of calls."

An on-off switch should be a last resort, said Helen Petraskas of Ford Motor Co.

It is best for people to adjust their driving position, said Brian Green, an assistant service manager at Coad Chevrolet. "We feel that the air bags should not be disconnected."

Coad is one of many dealerships that refuse to install the on-off switch because of liability risks.

Many people are confused about the switch.

The public can't drive into a dealership and request the switch; the request has to be approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Vehicle owners and lessees may obtain an on-off switch for one or both of their air bags only if they can certify that they are in one of our risk groups, said an NHTSA spokesperson.

People wanting to turn off air bags in their cars should make informed decisions based on the facts rather than be swayed by reports of occasional deaths caused by the bags, the spokesperson said.

As of Nov. 1, 1.8 million air bags had been deployed, saving 2,620 lives, according to NHTSA.

A study of crashes by NHTSA also found that the combination of seat belts and air bags is 75 percent effective in preventing serious head injuries and 66 percent effective in preventing serious chest injuries.

The switch proposal came in response to public distress over 87 deaths blamed on deploying air bags.

NHTSA officials have received about 7,000 letters from owners seeking waivers to allow mechanics to disconnect air bags immediately.

Under the government proposal, a car owner has to read government material explaining why air bags should be disconnected only in rare cases, and then sign a waiver. The car owner also may be asked to sign a waiver for liability to auto dealers and repair businesses before they install the switch. Labels would be posted in the vehicle warning passengers the bag was inactive.

Auto dealers and manufacturers, however, fear the label could fall off, which would expose people who borrow the car or subsequent owners to drive it without knowing its air bag was not functioning.

Applications and details for approval for the on-off switches are available from the NHTSA, most auto dealerships, and some AAA offices. Or, they can be downloaded from the NHTSA web site at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

WHO NEEDS A SWITCH?

Two at-risk groups would be better off with an air bag on-off switch:

-- Infants in rear-facing infant seats, which should never be placed in the front seat unless the air bag is turned off.

-- Drivers or passengers with unusual medical or physical conditions who have been advised by a physician that an air bag poses a special risk because of their condition.

Two other risk groups may be better off with an air bag switch:

-- Children 1 to 12. Children in this group can travel safely in the front seat if they are properly belted and do not lean forward.

-- Drivers who can't get back 10 inches from the steering wheel. Since the major risk zone is the first 2-to-3 inches from the air bag cover, sitting back 10 inches provides a clear margin of safety.