1999 Ford Crown Victoria Severe Duty Supplement 2nd Printing - Page 16

1999 Ford Crown Victoria Manual

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Severe duty equipment 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 not affect the deployment of air bags. Without the benefit of crash tests on vehicles equipped with push bumpers (there are a number of different styles available), it is Ford's opinion that installation of some push bumpers could affect the timing of the air bag deployment. A computer crash simulation of a Ford police vehicle equipped with a Setina Body Guard 30.5 cm (12 inches) push bumper showed minimal effect. Use of a push bumper of similar design should not have a significant effect upon air bag deployment. Is there a problem with transporting a front seat passenger who has their hands restrained behind their body? This is not a normal riding position for an occupant. The effectiveness of the passenger air bag will depend, in part, upon the occupant's seated position. It is recommended that the seat should be adjusted as far rearward as possible for this situation, and that the occupant sit as upright as possible and be properly safety belted. It is recommended that such passengers be properly restrained in the rear seat if at all possible. Can conditions encountered in aggressive pursuit driving situations (e.g., high speed braking, uneven road surfaces) cause inadvertent inflation of an air bag that might result in loss of vehicle control? Air bags are designed to deploy in moderate to major frontal crashes based on the detection of sudden deceleration by sensors in the vehicle. The air bag system is designed to activate in a frontal collision equivalent to hitting a solid barrier (such as a wall) at about 23 km/h (14 mph) or more, or, roughly speaking, a parked car of similar size at 45 km/h (28 mph) or more. When activated, the air bag fully deploys in about 50 milliseconds (1/20th of a second). Following inflation, the air bag begins to vent almost immediately and is deflated in about one second. 16

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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 not affect the deployment of
air bags. Without the benefit of crash tests on vehicles equipped with
push bumpers (there are a number of different styles available), it is
Ford’s opinion that installation of some push bumpers could affect the
timing of the air bag deployment. A computer crash simulation of a Ford
police vehicle equipped with a Setina Body Guard 30.5 cm (12 inches)
push bumper showed minimal effect. Use of a push bumper of similar
design should not have a significant effect upon air bag deployment.
Is there a problem with transporting a front seat passenger who
has their hands restrained behind their body?
This is not a normal riding position for an occupant. The effectiveness of
the passenger air bag will depend, in part, upon the occupant’s seated
position. It is recommended that the seat should be adjusted as far
rearward as possible for this situation, and that the occupant sit as
upright as possible and be properly safety belted. It is recommended that
such passengers be properly restrained in the rear seat if at all possible.
Can conditions encountered in aggressive pursuit driving situations
(e.g., high speed braking, uneven road surfaces) cause inadvertent
inflation of an air bag that might result in loss of vehicle control?
Air bags are designed to deploy in moderate to major frontal crashes
based on the detection of sudden deceleration by sensors in the vehicle.
The air bag system is designed to activate in a frontal collision equivalent
to hitting a solid barrier (such as a wall) at about 23 km/h (14 mph) or
more, or, roughly speaking, a parked car of similar size at 45 km/h
(28 mph) or more. When activated, the air bag fully deploys in about
50 milliseconds (1/20th of a second). Following inflation, the air bag
begins to vent almost immediately and is deflated in about one second.
Severe duty equipment
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