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Vehicle safety guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Air Bag Safety: What Every Driver Should Know
Air bags save lives, especially when everyone is buckled up and seated correctly. Here is what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says about distance, children, on-off switches, recalls and replacement.
50,000+Lives saved by frontal air bags over 30 years (NHTSA)
10 in.Minimum distance to the air bag cover
Under 13Children ride in the back seat
1/20 sec.Deployment time, or less
The short answer
Wear your seat belt, keep at least 10 inches between the air bag cover and the center of your chest, and keep children under 13 in the back seat. Never put a rear-facing car seat in front of an active air bag, and have air bags replaced at an authorized repair center after they deploy.
How air bags protect you
NHTSA describes air bags as supplemental protection, designed to work best with seat belts. They reduce the chance that your upper body or head strikes the vehicle's interior in a crash, and they deploy in less than 1/20th of a second. Side-impact air bags inflate even more quickly, because there is less space between you and the object striking the vehicle.
NHTSA says frontal air bags have saved more than 50,000 lives over a 30-year period. Air bags work with seat belts, not in place of them, and they are not intended to deploy in all crashes.
Sit at a safe distance
Serious or sometimes fatal injuries can happen if you sit too close to a deploying air bag. NHTSA recommends keeping a 10-inch minimum between the air bag cover and the center of your chest, and moving your seat as far back as you can while still reaching the pedals.
Children and air bags
Back seat under 13
NHTSA recommends that children under 13 ride in the back seat.
Rear-facing seats
Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an active air bag.
Front seat risk
NHTSA says placing a child in the front seat, no matter the circumstances, comes with increased risk.
Air bag on-off switches
NHTSA authorizes an on-off switch only in limited cases:
| Situation | Which air bag |
|---|---|
| A rear-facing infant seat must ride in front because the vehicle has no rear seat or it is too small | Passenger |
| A child under 13 must ride in front because of a condition that needs frequent medical monitoring | Passenger |
| A medical condition makes the person safer with the frontal air bag off (usually with a physician's written statement) | Frontal air bag |
| A driver of extremely small stature (4 feet 6 inches or less) cannot keep a safe distance | Driver |
Only authorized dealers and repair shops can install a switch, and only with an authorization letter from NHTSA. The request form and NHTSA's brochure are on NHTSA's Air Bags page. If a passenger air bag off indicator does not show what you expect, NHTSA says to check your owner's manual.
Recalls, replacement and fake air bags
Takata air bags, installed in tens of millions of U.S. vehicles, are under recall because they may explode and cause serious injury or death. NHTSA says to contact your dealer for the repair. See how to check your vehicle for recalls.
Air bags deploy only once. NHTSA says to replace used air bags right away after a crash, only at an authorized repair center, and before you drive the vehicle again. NHTSA has found counterfeit air bags in vehicles where an air bag was replaced, and says they consistently malfunction, so used-car buyers should make sure their vehicle has genuine air bag inflators.
Service at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. Michigan City Ford is a new and used Ford dealership in Michigan City, IN, with its own service department.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 10, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Air bag safety FAQ
How far should I sit from the air bag?
NHTSA recommends at least 10 inches between the air bag cover and the center of your chest.
At what age can a child sit in front of an air bag?
NHTSA recommends that children under 13 ride in the back seat, and says a rear-facing car seat should never go in front of an active air bag.
Do air bags replace seat belts?
No. NHTSA says air bags are supplemental protection designed to work with seat belts, not replace them.
Can I turn off my air bag?
Only in the limited cases NHTSA authorizes, such as certain medical conditions or a rear-facing infant seat that must ride in front. An authorized dealer or repair shop installs the switch with NHTSA's authorization letter.
Do air bags need to be replaced after a crash?
Yes. Air bags deploy only once. NHTSA says to replace them right away, only at an authorized repair center, and before driving again.
How many lives have air bags saved?
NHTSA says frontal air bags have saved more than 50,000 lives over a 30-year period.
More vehicle safety guides
See how to check vehicle recalls and our Indiana seat belt law guide.
Sources
Air bag facts, seating, child, on-off switch, recall and replacement guidance are from NHTSA's Air Bags page, read November 10, 2026. Follow your owner's manual for your vehicle. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- NHTSA: Air Bags, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), read November 10, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026