Special
Crash Investigations (SCI) - Aftermarket Equipment in Safety
Vehicles Bulletin
U.S. Department
of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Center for Statistics & Analysis
Special Crash Investigations (SCI)
NHTSA research
shows that aftermarket items mounted in the passenger compartment
can interfere with air bag deployment or can be propelled into
occupants causing moderate to severe injuries.
In
fact, The National Center for Statistics and Analysis’s
Special Crash Investigations Program has recently discovered
several situations in which laptop computers have caused injuries
to police officers. These injuries are occurring due to communication
terminals, warning devices, etc. being mounted in the deployment
path of passenger side airbags. The deployment of the airbag
causes objects in the deployment path to become flying projectiles.
Any piece
of aftermarket equipment mounted to; in front of, or on top
of the instrument panel of air bag equipped vehicle poses a
risk of;
Interfering
with the normal deployment path of the air bag decreasing it’s
effectiveness or
Becoming a projectile within the passenger compartment.
Because of these risks, it is imperative that the parties responsible
for installing aftermarket equipment in;
- Emergency
Services vehicles
- Public
Utility vehicles
- Other
service vehicles
Check with
the appropriate manufacturers representatives to obtain guidance
for safe mounting locations and practices. Directions for obtaining
this information from three major suppliers of law enforcement
/ emergency services vehicles are outlined below.
Ford:
For information
regarding mounting or locating equipment in the front seat/dashboard
area for Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor vehicles to
avoid air bag deployment zones:
Consult
the police/fleet owner guide supplement in the glove box or
Via
the internet, go to www.fleet.ford.com
Point to
"Products" tab and a drop down menu will offer: "State
& Local Government"
Point to "State & Local Government" and a drop
down menu will offer "General Information"
Click on "General Information" and a page will come
up with multiple topic references
Click on "Police Vehicles Equipment Installation Guide"
on that page to bring up the information about mounting or locating
equipment
or
Via phone,
call the Ford Fleet Hotline at 1-800-34-FLEET
GM:
For information
regarding mounting or locating equipment in the front seat/dashboard
area for Chevrolet Impala, Camaro or Tahoe Police Interceptor
vehicles and the Express Van and Hummer platforms to avoid air
bag deployment zones:
Consult
the police/fleet owner guide supplement in the glove box or
Via the internet, go to www.gmfleet.com
Click on
the “Site Map”
Scroll down to “Specialty Vehicles”
Click on “Law Enforcement”
Scroll down to “Safety Information”
or
Via phone,
call GM’s Fleet Operations at 1-800-FLEET –OP (353-3867)
Daimler
Chrysler:
For information
regarding mounting or locating equipment in the front seat/dashboard
area for Dodge Intrepid Police Interceptor vehicles to avoid
air bag deployment zones:
Consult
the police/fleet owner guide supplement in the glove box or
Via the internet, go to www.Chrysler.com
Click on
“Vehicles”
Scroll down to “Fleet Vehicles”
This will take you to the Fleet Services Area
or
Via phone,
call Chrysler’s Fleet Services at 1-800-999- FLEET (3533)
For
other manufacturers, contact the appropriate fleet service.
