ON-OFF Switch 

Air Bag Basics

Air Bag Basics
FRONT IMPACT
A Flash video animation showing a Top Front - video shows top-down view of vehicle with signals passing along wires from sensors to air bag switches as front sensor encounters barrier, air bag deploys
 
SIDE IMPACT
A Flash video animation showing a Top side - video shows top-down view of vehicle with signals passing along wires from sensors to air bag switches as side sensor encounters barrier, air bag deploys
 
  • Vehicles without rear seats, or with small rear seats, such as pickup trucks or sports cars, may have a passenger air bag ON-OFF switch as standard equipment.
  • The purpose of the switch in the OFF position is to disable a frontal air bag in order to transport occupants who are at increased risk for air bag-related injury due to age, size, or medical condition.
  • The introduction of advanced frontal air bags has significantly reduced the need for the installation of ON-OFF switches.
  • Because children are always safest in the rear seat, vehicles with enough space in the rear seat to accommodate a child safety seat are not equipped with an ON-OFF switch as standard equipment.
  • Consumers who wish to have an ON-OFF switch installed for either the driver or passenger frontal air bag must apply through NHTSA for permission to have an air bag ON-OFF switch installed. See ON-OFF Switch Requests for details.