Carmakers Propose On-Off Air Bag Switch

Sun., Dec. 22, 1996

The Big Three automakers will propose installing air bag on-off switches as an alternative to mechanics disconnecting the devices, the Detroit Free Press reported Saturday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is drafting rules which will allow vehicle owners to make their own decisions regarding air bags, and may include the option to have them disconnected.

The automakers said they would rather overhaul many of the 56 million air bag-equipped vehicles to install on-off switches.

The automakers prefer that only the passenger-side air bag be controlled by an on-off switch, the newspaper said. The cost of retrofitting existing vehicles and how it would be done have not been determined.

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Carmakers Propose On-Off Air Bag Switch

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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