Understanding Occupant Sensing and Seat Belts

ELESYS North America Inc. is committed to creating the world’s highest quality automotive electronic safety systems. That’s why we invented the SeatSentry™Occupant Sensing System that accurately detects a person’s size and position. We are working with the government and communities nationwide to help parents understand how an airbag works and how to properly place a child in a safety seat. A smart parent still beats a smart airbag. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that de-powered or “smart airbags” are not foolproof and still present risks to small adults and children. NHTSA recommends these steps to compensate for the shortcomings of "smart airbags": Airbag Safety Tips: Tip #1: Multi-stage airbags can still injure children! Keep infants and small children in the back seat, buckled into child seats or safety belts. Tip #2: Drivers and front-seat passengers should always buckle up, slide the seat back to a comfortable position, and avoid sitting or leaning close to the air bag. Tip #3: If your vehicle has an air bag on/off switch, check to make sure it is set properly on each trip for the occupant in that seat. Tip #4: To reduce the risk of injury, put 10-inches between your chest and the air bag cover. Tip #5: Never place your feet on the dashboard, which contains the airbag. Tip #6: Adult passengers should sit straight and stay buckled. Safety Organizations With More Information: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ Mothers Against Drunk Driving http://www.madd.org/home/ National Safety Council http://www.nsc.org/airbag.htm A membership organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. Coalition for Vehicle Choice (CVC) http://www.vehiclechoice.org/main.html Advocates for national polices to promote traffic safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(IIHS) http://www.highwaysafety.org/safety_facts/aftermarket air bag safety facts. Children s Hospital of Philadelphia ® http://www.chop.edu/carseat a multi-media website designed to help answer questions about car safety, child car seats, booster seats and seat belts; increasing awareness to protect children. Transport Canada http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/menu.htm the Canadian government website devoted to transportation safety. The National Safe Kids Campaign http://www.safekids.org/ dedicated to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury.