air bag question
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 329
Likes: 1
From: Raleigh
This should read:
"An improperly secured child (or adult for that matter) riding in the passenger seat of a automobile equiped with an SRS is at risk of serious injury or even death.
It is not recommended that small children ride in the front seat of any automobile (airbag or not). However, if no rear seat is available, then use the best possible safety configuration for your particular automobile. First, the child needs to be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat. Second, the vehicles seat needs to be pushed all the way back to maximize the distance between the child and the airbags deployment radius. Check with your automobile manufacture to determine the deployment range of your airbag for both the driver and passenger-side, as they differ significantly.
In addition, under no circumstances should a parent place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an airbag-enabled equiped automobile.
Please drive safely and remember everyone's situation is unique, just like our loved ones!
"An improperly secured child (or adult for that matter) riding in the passenger seat of a automobile equiped with an SRS is at risk of serious injury or even death.
It is not recommended that small children ride in the front seat of any automobile (airbag or not). However, if no rear seat is available, then use the best possible safety configuration for your particular automobile. First, the child needs to be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat. Second, the vehicles seat needs to be pushed all the way back to maximize the distance between the child and the airbags deployment radius. Check with your automobile manufacture to determine the deployment range of your airbag for both the driver and passenger-side, as they differ significantly.
In addition, under no circumstances should a parent place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an airbag-enabled equiped automobile.
Please drive safely and remember everyone's situation is unique, just like our loved ones!
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,004
Likes: 0
From: Bowie
Soap Box (part 1 of 3)
Utopia, ain't it great?! Add a nice soft plush pillow that fills with air to protect an occupant in the event of a crash.
Oh wait, actually it's actually an explosive charge aimed in your direction, sort of like a gun filled with blanks aimed at your head; Safe from a distance, deadly at very close range.
Under the right circumstances an air bag will save a life, under the wrong circumstances, it will take a life.
Airbags are a little like Russian Roulette, insert one explosive charge, you spin the chamber and take you chances.
Soap Box (part 2 of 3)
Newer cars come with stretchier (is that a word?) seatbelts. The old material had to stay taught to keep your head from bouncing off the steering wheel and/or dashboard. Since airbags provide impact protection, the seatbelts only need to keep you in your seat during the impact, so the belt material has been changed to stretch. In this situation you can't disable the airbag because the seatbelt alone will not prevent head injuries.
Soap Box (part 3 of 3)
It seems kind of ironic that folks think it is irresponsible to taxi a kid around in a small two-seat convertible (air-bag or not, kid seat or not) because of the risk to the child's life. However, there is no mention of the irresponsibility of the parent driving around even though there is an identical risk of orphaning the child.
Remember folks, ordinarily life sucks and then you die. With an S2000, you die with a big grin on your face!
Utopia, ain't it great?! Add a nice soft plush pillow that fills with air to protect an occupant in the event of a crash.
Oh wait, actually it's actually an explosive charge aimed in your direction, sort of like a gun filled with blanks aimed at your head; Safe from a distance, deadly at very close range.
Under the right circumstances an air bag will save a life, under the wrong circumstances, it will take a life.
Airbags are a little like Russian Roulette, insert one explosive charge, you spin the chamber and take you chances.
Soap Box (part 2 of 3)
Newer cars come with stretchier (is that a word?) seatbelts. The old material had to stay taught to keep your head from bouncing off the steering wheel and/or dashboard. Since airbags provide impact protection, the seatbelts only need to keep you in your seat during the impact, so the belt material has been changed to stretch. In this situation you can't disable the airbag because the seatbelt alone will not prevent head injuries.
Soap Box (part 3 of 3)
It seems kind of ironic that folks think it is irresponsible to taxi a kid around in a small two-seat convertible (air-bag or not, kid seat or not) because of the risk to the child's life. However, there is no mention of the irresponsibility of the parent driving around even though there is an identical risk of orphaning the child.
Remember folks, ordinarily life sucks and then you die. With an S2000, you die with a big grin on your face!
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,004
Likes: 0
From: Bowie
I wasn't advocating for one side or the other. But, since you bring it up... I feel that I should be able to weigh the options and pick what's best for me and my kids. Don't get me wrong, I like the extra protection air bags provide.
When the kids were younger, I made the decision to put them in child safety seats, because I evaluated and decided they were safer.
The whole family always wears their seatbelts, because I evaluated and decided it was safer.
With 5 kids and two adults, I bought an SUV because it was safer with 7 people in an accident than our mini-van.
I don't street race with, or without the kids.
Now, there is a loaded explosive device facing my passenger and myself (In the S2000, Mini-van and SUV). It could injure or kill my kids, wife, passenger or myself in a parking lot accident. Not only does my passenger not get to decide, I don't get to decide. Some engineer/G-man/G-woman/politician sitting behind a desk decided for me. If for some reason/emergency, I need to put a small kid or rear facing car seat in my passenger seat, I want the ability to disable the airbag temporarily.
Take it from a guy that lost his mother to cancer when I was four. A large insurance policy will never replace a parent or a child.
When the kids were younger, I made the decision to put them in child safety seats, because I evaluated and decided they were safer.
The whole family always wears their seatbelts, because I evaluated and decided it was safer.
With 5 kids and two adults, I bought an SUV because it was safer with 7 people in an accident than our mini-van.
I don't street race with, or without the kids.
Now, there is a loaded explosive device facing my passenger and myself (In the S2000, Mini-van and SUV). It could injure or kill my kids, wife, passenger or myself in a parking lot accident. Not only does my passenger not get to decide, I don't get to decide. Some engineer/G-man/G-woman/politician sitting behind a desk decided for me. If for some reason/emergency, I need to put a small kid or rear facing car seat in my passenger seat, I want the ability to disable the airbag temporarily.
Take it from a guy that lost his mother to cancer when I was four. A large insurance policy will never replace a parent or a child.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Nashville
I have researched this and found that there are several companies doing the conversion. First you have to get written permission from the Gov. , then you can pay to have it done. From what I understand all manufacturers have to continue to honor all warranty. Not all dealers will agree to do the conversion, in my area it is the Caddy dealer.
I understand the dangers of children and airbags. I have a Student who lost his hearing in one ear due to the deployment of one. I also have another student who believes that it saved her life. I would never put a child in the front seat with an active airbag, this is my belief, their are others who would, that is their belief. Neither is wrong for thinking this way. The airbag controversy is a statistical study that found reason for concern. There are many such studies that we pay attention to, and many that we do not. We are not wrong in either way of thinking. We have the right to choose. How many of you let your children use cell-phones? Do you continue to char grill your meat? Do you brush your teeth after every meal? Do you smoke, or binge drink? Have you gotten behind the wheel after drinking alcohol? I think you get my point.
Don't make assumptions, educate yourself and make an informed decision.
- T -
I understand the dangers of children and airbags. I have a Student who lost his hearing in one ear due to the deployment of one. I also have another student who believes that it saved her life. I would never put a child in the front seat with an active airbag, this is my belief, their are others who would, that is their belief. Neither is wrong for thinking this way. The airbag controversy is a statistical study that found reason for concern. There are many such studies that we pay attention to, and many that we do not. We are not wrong in either way of thinking. We have the right to choose. How many of you let your children use cell-phones? Do you continue to char grill your meat? Do you brush your teeth after every meal? Do you smoke, or binge drink? Have you gotten behind the wheel after drinking alcohol? I think you get my point.
Don't make assumptions, educate yourself and make an informed decision.
- T -
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Montgomery
You can get an airbag disabler switch installed. There is a little bit of paperwork involved, but nothing too serious. The NHTSB requires you fill out a form and send to them, they will then send you a letter that you take to the installer. I did this about 6 months ago, turnaround time on the letter was in the neighborhood of 3-4 weeks. Total price of cutoff switch was $280. If you are still interested, send me an email and I can probably dig up the appropriate links for you. bcarr01@bellsouth.net
Bryan
Bryan
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,288
Likes: 39
From: Nashville
I had an airbag switch put into my first S2000 so my kids could ride around. I basically shut it off and left it off...... after some reading though, the few kids that were killed or seriously injured by a airbag were not properly restrained.
My second S2000 i did not bother with the airbag switch, but I made sure the seat was all the way back and my kids didn't piss around too much.
I am trading my S2000 in soon anyway, but I do let them sit in the front seat of my Cobra although it has a back seat and a airbag, but no switch. I think the Car and Driver editor did a big story on this about 6 months ago. He puts his 8-9 year old in the front of any car that he drives, but makes sure the seat is all the way back and she is properly restrained.
it is hard to tickle little kids if they are buried in the back seat.
My airbag switch was something like $300.
Scot
My second S2000 i did not bother with the airbag switch, but I made sure the seat was all the way back and my kids didn't piss around too much.
I am trading my S2000 in soon anyway, but I do let them sit in the front seat of my Cobra although it has a back seat and a airbag, but no switch. I think the Car and Driver editor did a big story on this about 6 months ago. He puts his 8-9 year old in the front of any car that he drives, but makes sure the seat is all the way back and she is properly restrained.
it is hard to tickle little kids if they are buried in the back seat.
My airbag switch was something like $300.
Scot
