The advent of air bags has decreased the number of deaths to drivers in frontal accidents by 30 percent and to their front seat passengers by 27 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Board (NHTSB). However, as beneficial as air bags can be, they are not without their own inherent risks.
Reducing Air Bag Injuries
Air bag injuries can be largely prevented by following a few safety precautions. Below are just a few points to keep in mind:
1. Never let children ride in the front seat. Children can be smothered by an air bag deploying. Avoid this danger by having your children strapped into the back seat.
2. Request authorization from the NHTSB for an air bag switch. With permission from the NHTSB automobile owners can have an on/off switch installed to disable their air bags in certain situations. This is desirable if the primary driver has a medical condition that would make an air bag deploying dangerous (such as asthma), if the car lacks a back seat for a child to ride on, or if the seat cannot be adjusted to be at least 10 inches behind the steering wheel.
For more information about auto insurance in the Phoenix area, please contact Phocus Companies at (602) 955-7705. We’ve been helping Arizona residents with their insurance needs for more than 25 years.
