2002 Ford Crown Victoria Severe Duty Supplement 2nd Printing - Page 14

Severe duty equipment IMPORTANT AIR BAG DO'S AND DON'TS Do not attempt to tamper with, disconnect or deactivate the air bag system. Tampering with an air bag system could cause the bag to inflate or become inoperative. The air bag system should not be disconnected or deactivated. Do not mount or place any objects in the deployment path of an air bag. Air bags must be allowed to fully deploy without restriction. The deployment of air bags is not compatible with any configuration of police equipment mounting that places objects in the air bag deployment path. Equipment mounted or placed in the deployment path area of an air bag will reduce the effectiveness of the air bag, damage the air bag and potentially damage or dislodge the equipment. Further such items could become projectiles in the event of an air bag deployment. Do always use safety belts with the air bag supplemental restraint system. There are four very important reasons to always use seat belts with the air bag system. Safety belts: • help restrain the occupant to increase the effectiveness of the air bag when it inflates. • reduce the risk of injury in rollover, side or rear impact accidents for which air bags are not designed to inflate. • reduce the risk of injury in frontal collisions that are not severe enough to activate the air bag. • reduce the risk of passengers being thrown from the vehicle. SOME COMMON POLICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT AIR BAGS Will there be any way to special order police vehicles without the air bag systems? No. Based on the federal law (FMVSS #208), after August 31, 1993, the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will not be able to sell passenger cars that do not contain passive restraint systems. Can the installation of push bumpers on the front end of the vehicle affect the deployment of an air bag? Different push bumper designs may each have different deformation characteristics in a crash situation that may or may not affect the 14