Air Bag Tips

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Air Bag Safety Campaign recommend all drivers and passengers:

Sit back as far as possible from the air bag.

Tilt your steering wheel down so the air bag will deploy at the chest, not the head.

Hold the wheel at 9 and 3 o’clock positions. Don’t drape your arm over the steering wheel, because the air bag could break it.

Wear lap and shoulder belts with the strap across the collarbone. Never put a shoulder strap under your arm or a child’s arm.

There are no safety recommendations for people of specific heights or weights.

“Air bags do not hate short people,” said one NHTSA spokesman. “Air bags have saved a lot of short people.”

But if you are short:

Sit as far back as possible from the air bag, at least 10 to 12 inches.

Tilt your seat back slightly, to allow as much room as possible between your chest and the air bag.

Hold the steering wheel from the sides so your arms aren’t between you and the air bag.

Consider pedal extenders. You cannot legally move a car seat from its factory mount, but plastic blocks can add 2 to 6 inches to your gas or brake pedal. They’re available starting at $80 at Unique Conversions in Spokane, (509) 922-6363. Metal extenders can add 2 to 18 inches, installed from $99 to $150 per pedal, at Goldenwest Van Conversions, (509) 484-3842.

Parents should:

Keep all children under 13 in the rear seat.

Ensure safety belts fit and use age-appropriate infants and toddler seats.

If you must travel with children in front, move their seat back as far as possible, buckle them in and try to keep them from wriggling or leaning forward.

If you want to disable your air bag, you must make a written request to the Administrator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.

However, government policies could change soon. For the latest information, call NHTSA Auto Safety Hot line, 1-800-424-9393.

, DataTimes