Dodge Dakota Sport pickup truck, driven by an alcohol-impaired driver, slams into the back of a stopped vehicle at an intersection. The Dakota’s driver’s front airbag deploys, but the passenger front airbag doesn’t. Why not?

Approach to a vehicle with this much frontal damage makes one expect that both front airbags would be deployed. Airbag cut-off switches can change all that.

This case study is a great example of a situation in which emergency responders will encounter vehicle airbags that have not deployed. In this incident, the driver at some time prior to the crash had activated the dash-mounted airbag cut-off switch to disable the passenger front airbag, preventing it from deploying.

Since the 1996 model year, the federal agency that regulates vehicle safety equipment has allowed airbag on-off switches to be placed in certain models of pickup trucks, sports cars and other vehicles. The agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), published a final rule permitting vehicle manufacturers to offer manual on-off switches for the passenger airbags for new vehicles with no rear seats or with rear seats that are too small to accommodate rear-facing infant restraints.

Currently, there are over 3.2 million such vehicles with airbag switches installed as original equipment. Analysis of NHTSA data reveals that this includes over 219 vehicle models with the availability of the manufacturer-produced on-off switches.

Initial airbag scanning reveals a deployed driver’s front airbag and no side-impact airbags.

An on-off switch allows the activation signal to an airbag to be turned on and off. To limit misuse, a key must be used to operate the on-off switch. When the airbag is turned off, a light comes on. There is typically a message on or near the light saying “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF.” With the switch in the “off” position, when a crash occurs, that bag never receives the signal to deploy. The airbag will remain off until the key is used to manually turn it back on.

How does the presence of an on-off switch influence the actions of the responders at the scene?

It all starts with airbag detection. Hopefully, the first crew to reach this vehicle will scan the interior for the presence of deployed or undeployed airbags as part of their size-up routine. This task can be accomplished almost simultaneously with patient contact.

Closer scanning reveals the “loaded” passenger frontal airbag. Note the airbag cut-off switch located below the heater and radio controls.

Once the airbag scanning detects the loaded airbag, responders must determine why the bag did not deploy. A closer scan of the instrument panel of this pickup, near the radio or heater controls, reveals the cut-off switch installed by the vehicle manufacturer. The switch is clearly in the “off” position.

Now that the reason for having a loaded airbag is known, rescuer safety is the priority. Battery shutdown is essential. In addition, at this crash scene it is safe for rescuers to work on the injured driver from the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Any rescuer, however, who opens the passenger door and tries to access the driver from that side is in danger of being within that airbag’s inflation zone. Because it is a passenger airbag, its inflation zone extends out at least 18 inches from the instrument panel airbag cover.

The inflation zone extends out at least 18 inches from the cover of this “loaded” airbag. Just because the airbag has been “cut off” doesn’t mean it is completely safe.

Airbag cut-off switches may be installed by the vehicle manufacturer or installed by vendors after the original purchase. Regardless, cut-off switches result in loaded airbags. Loaded airbags result in increased risks to emergency responders. Greater risk means greater chance for things to go wrong. Be alert to the presence of loaded airbags for whatever reason and have a plan for dealing with this situation.

Stay clear … stay safe!