How do you disable passenger air bag?

It's for putting children in the front seat, especially in rear-facing baby capsules which sometimes don't fit in the back seat etc. That's the primary reason.

The other reason is so that Jack Bauer can escape being held at gunpoint by driving straight into another car or wall, killing the terrorist holding the gun in the passenger seat, but being unharmed himself due to the driver's airbag!


Edit: Whilst I was typing this hentaiboy posted a link to a real-world example. But in all seriousness, why would you have your children in the front seat anyway. Even my parent's generation knew that the front seat is dangerous for children, why do it now 30 years later?

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Originally Posted by hentaiboy

They're baby killers
News - Mom On Trial After Airbag Kills Infant Daughter - InsideEdition.com

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If you follow the rules they are not... National child restraint laws effective 1 March 2010 - FAQs

"Can my child sit in the front seat?

This depends on whether there is more than one row of seats in the car and the age of the child.

Where there are two or more rows of seats:

A child under four years of age cannot sit in the front row of a car if there is more than one row of seats, even if they are large enough to fit in a booster seat.
A child between four years of age and under seven years of age cannot sit in the front row of a vehicle that has more than one row of seats unless the other rows are occupied by younger children in an approved child restraint.
Note: you can only fit a booster seat in the front row of a vehicle if that booster seat does not require a top tether strap.

If the car has one row of seats (for example a single cab ute or sports car with a front anchorage point) a child of any age can sit in the front seat provided they are properly restrained. However, most car manufacturers recommend against the use of rearward facing restraints in front passenger seats.

A child in a rearward facing restraint should not be placed in the front seat of a vehicle where there is an air bag."

Thanks for the link ICEDIST.

So this brings up a good point about the Mitsubishi Tritons. Are they a "single row" (2 / 3 seat) work vehicle? Was the 2002 Alfa mentioned a 2 seat?

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Originally Posted by Corey_R

Thanks for the link ICEDIST.

So this brings up a good point about the Mitsubishi Tritons. Are they a "single row" (2 / 3 seat) work vehicle? Was the 2002 Alfa mentioned a 2 seat?

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I don't believe a current MX5 (or older models) have the passenger disbable switch in this market either.

The triton GLXR is a dual cab.

I believe children under 7 cannot sit in a vehicle without an approved child restraint. Nor can they sit in the front seat unless perhaps as mentioned in this post there is only one row of seats as in a single cab ute.

My daughter is 7 and sits in the front seat.

I think the laws are not that effective as some 7 year olds can be much smaller than a 5 year old for instance.

As for why put a child 7 or over in the front seat.....well, I drive safely and sedately when I have my children in the car as we all should! Also cars and safety of 30 years ago compared to today is a very different scenario.

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I agree JPanDAX, it's size that matters, not age. But the fundamental issue from 30 years ago still exists. The effectiveness of the restraints for "little people". If the seat belt doesn't effectively restrain you due to your small size, now arguably worse than 30 years ago due to the airbags...

I just picked up my Caddy Maxi Life TDI250 this evening and I asked them about this and was told that they cannot be disabled by law. My Caddy does not have the switch mentioned, just the AUX iinput in the glove bin.

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Originally Posted by MACCAA

My daughter is 7 and sits in the front seat.

I think the laws are not that effective as some 7 year olds can be much smaller than a 5 year old for instance.

As for why put a child 7 or over in the front seat.....well, I drive safely and sedately when I have my children in the car as we all should! Also cars and safety of 30 years ago compared to today is a very different scenario.

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I was driving safely and sedately when I ended up in hospital for 10 days with 5 broken ribs and a punctured lung........it's generally the other guys you have to worry about.
Whilst it's all very good to be safe and sedate,there's no way in the world that this guarantees your[ -or your family's ]safety.
It's like cab drivers who tell you that they don't need seat belts 'cause they're good drivers.....
I've been in two write offs that I had absolutely nothing to do with and no way of avoiding them-so don't kid yourself that you're safe and sound because you're doing the right thing.

Yep. I've been in a write off too, in my MKV Golf. I was stationary even! Unfotunately surrounded by cars and nowhere to move even if I wanted to. Luckily I was not seriously injured.

Well as parents we all make judgements that we feel are suitable. You are never 100% safe from harm. I am happy to ride with my daughter in the front seat and do not feel I am putting her in undue risk by doing so.

I never kid myself about anything so serious and by driving safer I believe I AM reducing the risk to me and my family. This is common sense. Yes we can't control what other road users are doing, however if we are aware (as per what motorcycle rider training teaches) then we can avoid the results of the stupidity or mistakes of others in some cases.

You are all free to make your own calls on this as parents and adults.

I don't think this tread was to preach driving philosophies.

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