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NADA Applauds NHTSA's Air Bag Deactivation Rule

18 November 1997

NADA Applauds NHTSA's Air Bag Deactivation Rule

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The National Automobile Dealers
Association today hailed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's
new air bag deactivation rule as the means to guarantee maximum safety
benefits to the greatest number of motorists while addressing the concerns of
the small number of motorists at risk from the devices.
    "Dealers are very pleased that the final rule on air bag deactivation
allows the very small population of at-risk motorists to opt for on/off
switches rather than wholesale deactivation," said Ramsay H. Gillman, NADA
president.  "NADA filed comments with NHTSA during the rulemaking process,
maintaining that a switch would allow a motorist to activate an air bag when a
front-seat passenger would benefit from the device and turn it off only when
an at-risk passenger must sit in front of an air bag."
    Under the final rule, effective Jan. 19, 1998, dealers will be permitted
to install switches that allow air bags in passenger cars and light trucks to
be turned on and off in appropriate circumstances.  Vehicle owners must apply
for authorization from NHTSA before dealers can perform this work.  Vehicle
owners can get on/off switches installed for one or both air bags if they or
users of their vehicles meet one or more of the following criteria:

    --  individuals with a medical condition where the risks of the air bag
        deploying outweigh the benefits;

    --  individuals who cannot position themselves at least 10 inches from the
        center of the driver air bag cover;

    --  individuals who must transport an infant in a rear-facing child
        restraint in the front seat because of a medical condition or the lack
        of a rear seat in the vehicle; or

    --  individuals who must transport children 12 years or younger in the
        front seat because the vehicle has no rear seat, the driver must
        transport more children that can be accommodated in the rear seat or
        because of a child with a medical condition that requires constant
        monitoring.

    NADA commends NHTSA for addressing the concerns of consumers, automotive
industry representatives and safety groups during the rulemaking process to
provide the safest deactivation alternatives to the motoring public.
    The National Automobile Dealers Association represents more than 19,500
franchised new-car and -truck dealers holding nearly 40,000 separate
franchises, domestic and import.

SOURCE  National Automobile Dealers Association