Airbag Apathy !

Apparently a lot of Australian car owners are prepared to play a game of " Russian Roulette " indefinitely as they continue to drive cars fitted with  potentially deadly Takata airbag systems. This Japanese built safety system was installed in many makes of cars, ranging from the base models to luxury cars at the top of the price range.

It was discovered that a manufacturing fault had the potential to shatter the surrounding fittings when the airbag inflated in an accident, causing shrapnel to fly into the head and neck of the person protected by the airbag.  Across the world this fault has caused both a number of deaths and serious injuries. All the cars fitted with this Takata airbag system are subject to a recall to have the air bags replaced under warranty.

This recall has been in place for many months and it is disturbing to learn that many owners are failing to contact the selling agent to have the airbag replacement work done free of charge.  It is estimated that thirty thousand cars have so far ignored the recall notice and those driving them face a similar danger to having a shotgun pointed at their head.

What is probably causing this apathy is the knowledge that only a very small percentage of the airbags in use will deliver this danger.   The vast number will work perfectly and there is no way of knowing the outcome in a crash and so the odds are heavily in favour of surviving a crash without airbag injuries or death.   The reverse also applies.   If the airbags operate because of a very low speed tailender, the driver or passenger may be fatally injured if he or she has the misfortune to have an airbag with this fault.

The car industry has gone to great lengths to put recall notices in the hands of owners but many cars may have changed hands or their owners have changed addresses.   The Federal Chamber of Automotive  Industries ( FCAI ) is looking at what more can be done to ensure that this problem is fully resolved.  It seems that the recall will fall far short of all the vehicles affected unless stronger measures are taken.

The logical intervention to scoop up unrepaired cars would be to include that airbag replacement requirement as a specific item to be checked on the annual car registration safety examination by a registered motor mechanic - known as the " pink slip " in most states.  Cars would not be cleared for registration renewal unless that recall work had been completed.

That would not be an onerous task for the mechanics undertaking those tests. Car manufacturers keep a tally online of all vehicles affected, together with notification of when this task was completed.  A simple call to the local brand agent would instantly divulge this required information.  Registration renewal checks are a state responsibility and it would require individual states to ensure this requirement was added to the checklist.

That seems the only certainty that airbag safety will be extended to all the affected vehicles on Australian roads !