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Most Americans Will Not Need to Deactivate Air Bags, Auto Industry Official Says

18 November 1997

Most Americans Will Not Need to Deactivate Air Bags, Auto Industry Official Says

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The following statement was issued
today by Andrew H. Card, Jr., President & CEO of the American Automobile
Manufacturers Association, in response to the air bag deactivation rule issued
by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

    "Air bags save lives, and the vast majority of Americans are safer in a
frontal crash when properly seated and restrained and protected by an air bag.
    "Before considering the difficult decision whether to install cutoff
switches for air bags, Americans should observe three rules:  Children ages 12
and under should always ride in the back properly restrained; all occupants
should use their safety belts; and front seat occupants should push their
seats as far back as is comfortable and convenient.  If these rules are
followed, very few Americans will need cutoff switches.
    "The decision to shut off a potentially life-saving air bag is a difficult
and important one.  We urge Americans to think carefully before deciding to
have air bag cutoff switches installed in their vehicles."

    AAMA is the trade association whose members are Chrysler Corporation
, Ford Motor Company , and General Motors Corporation
.  The association's site can be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.aama.com.

SOURCE  American Automobile Manufacturers Association