Insurers want names of drivers who disconnect air bags

Companies might raise premiums, ban discounts

January 7, 1998
Web posted at: 11:21 p.m. EST (0421 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An insurance industry group is trying to obtain the names of more than 3,000 people who have permission from the federal government to install on-off switches on their automobiles' air bags.

Some insurance companies are considering eliminating discounts and, perhaps, even raising premiums for drivers who have the switches. And companies are threatening to end air bag discounts for all drivers, if they can't get the names of drivers with the switches.

"If their air bag is not going to be used -- if the safety equipment has not been engaged in the car -- then insurance people are going to want to know about that so that people don't get a discount, a premium incentive, that they probably don't qualify for," said Terry Tyrpin of the National Association of Independent Insurers.

Earlier this year, the federal government gave car owners the option of installing an on-off switch on their air bags, because the bags deploy with so much force that they could kill a child or an adult of small stature.

Tyrpin's association, which represents companies that insure about one-third of U.S. drivers, has asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a list of the names of people availing themselves of that option. But the NHTSA has resisted, saying the names are covered by federal privacy laws.

An airbag deploys with enough force to kill an infant or a small adult

If insurers were to get the names, the drivers could lose their insurance discount for air bags, which amounts to about $15 a year. But some insurers are also hinting that those drivers could face higher premiums because of the added risk to passengers when the bag is deactivated.

Lack of air bags standard feature in some vehicles

"If we had a large increase of liability payments made out of claims because there was a switch, that could conceivably lead to an increase in a premium," said Art Ruiz of State Farm Insurance.

There are indications that actual amount of liability insurers face could be small.

There are at least 1.3 million vehicles on the road without back seats, and, in those vehicles, air bag on-off switches are standard equipment. NHTSA says no one has died because of the deactivated air bags.

Not all insurers are planning on taking action against those to install the switches.

"Where there are small numbers of people for whom deactivation may make sense, we don't envision that they will be punished for making the right decision," said Julie Rockman of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, another industry group.

The consumer group Public Citizen, however, is backing the insurance group's request for the names.

"This has to be public information," says Public Citizen's Joan Claybrook. "If there's an accident or crash, there has to be an investigation. The police have to know because you're trying to make a judgment of what caused the harm. And if there's no air bag, then it's different than if there is an air bag."

Reporter Kathleen Koch contributed to this report.

Related stories:

• Government announces rules for air bag switches - November 18, 1997
• Safety board to let some turn off air bags - October 1, 1997
• Federal agency now favoring on-off switch for air bags - August 26, 1997
• NTSB to urge tighter rules on air bags, safety belts - June 9, 1997

Related sites:

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• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
  • Airbag safety
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • Air Bag information

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