Transport Minister announces air bag deactivation program
No. H014/98
For release Feb. 10, 1998
OTTAWA - Transport Minister David Collenette today announced
that the federal, provincial and territorial governments and vehicle manufacturers
have reached agreement on a national program enabling certain Canadians to have
air bag switches installed in their vehicles.
"There's no doubt that air bags save lives when they
deploy as intended. It is estimated that 150 Canadian lives have been saved
since they were introduced in the early 1990s," said Mr. Collenette. "There
are certain individuals, however, who would benefit from the option of switching
off their air bags."
In co-ordinating the development of the national initiative,
Transport Canada offered the provinces and territories the opportunity to administer
this program, which falls within their jurisdiction. Quebec accepted this offer;
the others asked the department to administer it on their behalf.
Beginning in approximately one month's time, Canadians
who feel that air bags pose particular risks for them will be able to submit
a form to Transport Canada or, if they reside in Quebec, to la Société
de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). In completing the form, individuals
will be asked to self-certify that they meet at least one of the following criteria:
- they have a rear-facing child restraint that must
be used in the front passenger seat, as is the case in pickup trucks and sports
cars;
- they must routinely place children in the front passenger
seat, as is the case in car pools
- they cannot ensure a driver's seating position with
at least 25 centimetres of clearance between their chest and the steering
wheel; or
- they have a good medical reason to deactivate the
air bag.
Transport Canada will prepare and distribute the form and
a brochure describing how to arrange to have air bags deactivated. The department
will also gather statistical data from the forms, and share this information with
the provinces and territories. The SAAQ will develop and use a similar form and
brochure.
"Although we do not encourage air bag deactivation,
I am pleased that Transport Canada was able to work successfully with the provinces,
territories and vehicle manufacturers to develop a national process for those
who feel that such a measure is warranted," said Mr. Collenette. "This is a
good example of government responsiveness to special circumstances and co-operation
between government jurisdictions and vehicle manufacturers. I trust this collaborative
approach will continue and that we will be equally successful in improving the
performance of air bags in the future."
Information on this or other Transport Canada road safety
programs is available toll-free at 1-800-333-0371.
Contact:
Robert Greenslade
Communications, Ottawa
(613) 990-6055
Transport Canada is online at
http://www.tc.gc.ca
This news release may be made available in alternative
formats
for persons with visual disabilities - call (613)
990-2366.
