Ford Asks U.S. to Modify Car Air Bag Requirement

Ford Motor Co. said today it is asking the government to let auto makers avoid installing automatic seat belts or air bags on the passenger side of new cars if they agree to put air bags on the driver side.

Ford officials said their request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration modify its air bag regulations is based on technical difficulties in developing passenger-side air bags. They denied that it would diminish the overall level of protection for front-seat vehicle occupants.

As the government’s rules now stand, car makers have to start phasing in air bags or automatic seat belts on both sides of new vehicles this fall, with all new cars produced after September, 1989, to be covered.

Ford’s proposal would allow auto makers to skip the passenger-side passive restraints if they put in driver-side air bags, which the company says would offer drivers more protection than automatic seat belts.

The private Center for Auto Safety called Ford’s petition “just the latest effort by Ford Motor Co. to keep air bags from the American public.”