Air bags and children

1. If air bags pose such a danger to small passengers, why not just disconnect them, right? Wrong. It is illegal for a mechanic to disable any safety device in a vehicle, including airbags.
2. By disconnecting the air bag, you run the risk of personal injury in addition to possibly failing a state safety inspection.
3. New legislation, proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is in the works however to change the rules regarding airbag disconnection and overall air bag safety.
4. Air bags are designed, as per government regulations, to protect an average male ( 5'8" tall, 185 pounds) not wearing a seat belt.
5. A child under 12 years of age, even if properly restrained, can be hit in the face and head with an airbag with enough force to snap their necks. The easiest solution is not to put children under 12 years in the front seat. Children are 29 percent safer in the back seat, according to the National Safety Council.
6. If a child has to be in the front seat, make sure:
   1. Seat is pushed all the way back
   2. Always wear the belt properly; no shoulder belts behind the back.
   3. If the belt is uncomfortable, make the child taller with a booster seat.
7. Some companies are using, or plan to use a switch to disable the passenger airbag by choice. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration permits these in cars without back seats and pick-up trucks. The problem is the switch takes away the automatic nature of the airbag.
8. There is a lot of controversy in this area between safety, government and industry concerns. The most important safety measure is education and keeping children safe as they travel. For example, children may need to be taught not to go in the front seat in other vehicles as well.