HS Form 603 Request for Air Bage On-Off Switch

Request for
Air Bag
On-Off Switch

OMB No. 2127-0588
Expiration Date: 04/30/2010

Vehicle Owner or Lessee Instructions: Read the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) information brochure, Air Bags & On-Off Switches: Information for an Informed Decision. If you want
authorization for your driver air bag, passenger air bag, or both, fill out Parts A, B, E, and F completely, fill out
Parts C and D as appropriate, and send this form to:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Attention: Air Bag Switch Requests (W-51)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590-1000

For faster response due to mail delays
throughout the government sector, fax request
to:

FAX: 202-493-2833
Please print.
• Please note: Incomplete forms will be returned to the owner or lessee.
• If you need a copy of the brochure or have any questions about how to fill out this form, call the
NHTSA Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

•

Phone (optional)

Part A. Name and Address
First

Middle

Street Address (Residence)

City

Last
State

ZIP Code

Part B. I own or lease the following vehicle (owners of multiple vehicles should consult the
additional instructions at the end of this form):
Make

Vehicle Identification Number (located on driver’s side of dashboard

near windshield and on certification label on driver’s door frame)

Model

Model Year

Part C. Switch for Driver Air Bag
I request authorization for the installation of an on-off switch for the driver air bag in my vehicle. I certify that I
or another driver of my vehicle meets the criteria for the risk group checked below. (At least one box must be
checked.)

Medical condition. The driver has a medical condition which, according to his or her physician:
• Causes the driver air bag to pose a special risk for the driver; and
• Makes the potential harm from the driver air bag in a crash greater than the potential harm from turning off that air bag and allowing the driver, even if belted, to hit the steering wheel, dashboard, or
windshield in a crash.

Distance from driver air bag. Despite taking all reasonable steps to move back from the driver air

bag, the driver is not able to maintain a 10-inch distance from the center of his or her breastbone to the

center of the driver air bag cover.

OVER
HS Form 603

Part D. Switch for Passenger Air Bag
I request authorization for the installation of an on-off switch for the passenger air bag in my vehicle. I certify that
I or another passenger in my vehicle meets the criteria for the risk group checked below. (At least one box must
be checked.)

Infant. I transport an infant (less than 1 year old) who must ride in the front seat because:

•

•

•

Child age 1 to 12. A child age 1 to 12 must ride in the front seat because:

•

•

•

My vehicle has no rear seat;
My vehicle has a rear seat too small to accommodate a rear-facing infant seat; or
The infant has a medical condition which, according to the infant’s physician, makes
it necessary for the infant to ride in the front seat so that the driver can constantly
monitor the child’s condition.

My vehicle has no rear seat;
Although children ages 1 to 12 ride in the rear seat(s) whenever possible, children ages
1 to 12 sometimes must ride in the front because no space is available in the rear
seat(s) of my vehicle; or
The child has a medical condition which, according to the child’s physician, makes
it necessary for the child to ride in the front seat so that the driver can constantly
monitor the child’s condition.

Medical condition. A passenger has a medical condition which, according to his or her physician:

• Causes the passenger air bag to pose a special risk for the passenger; and

• Makes the potential harm from the passenger air bag in a crash greater than the
potential harm from turning off that air bag and allowing the passenger, even if belted,
to hit the dashboard, or windshield in a crash.

Part E. I make this request based on the following certification and understandings (check
each box below after reading carefully):
Information brochure. I certify that I have read the NHTSA information brochure, Air Bags & On-Off
Switches: Information for an Informed Decision. I understand that air bags should be turned off only for
people at risk and turned back on for people not at risk.
Loss of air bag protection. I understand that turning off an air bag may have serious safety consequences.
When an air bag is off, even belted people may hit their head, neck, or chest on the steering wheel,
dashboard, or windshield in a moderate to serious crash. That possibility may be increased in some newer
vehicles with seat belts that are specially designed to work with the air bag. Those belts, which are designed
to reduce the concentration of crash forces on any single part of the body, typically allow the occupant to
move farther forward in a crash than older belts. Without the air bag to cushion this forward movement, the
chance of the occupant hitting the vehicle interior is increased.
Waiver. I understand that motor vehicle dealers and repair businesses may require me to sign a waiver of
liability before they install an on-off switch.

Part F. Certification

I certify to the U.S. Department of Transportation that the information, certifications, and understandings given or indicated by
me on this form are truthful, correct, and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I recognize that the statements I have
made on this form concern a matter within the jurisdiction of a department of the United States and that making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement may render me subject to criminal prosecution under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.

Date

Signature of owner/lessee

Additional instructions and information for vehicle owners and lessees: An owner or lessee of multiple vehicles (e.g., a fleet owner) who
wants an on-off switch for the same air bag (e.g., just the passenger air bag) in more than one vehicle and for the same reason does not need
to submit a separate form for each vehicle. Instead, the owner or lessee may list the make, model, model year, and vehicle identification
number for each of those vehicles and attach the list to a copy of this form. Each page of the list must be signed and dated by the owner or
lessee. A list may also be attached to a single copy of this form if the owner or lessee wishes to request authorization for on-off switches for
both air bags in multiple vehicles.
Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. That number appears above.