Windsor Chrysler shutdown for airbags

By Dacotah Erwin

Roughly 6000 workers at the Windsor Fiat Chrysler Assembly plant are laid off for the month of October while the factory prepares for changes to the air bags required by the United States.

U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requires that manufacturers modify side air bags, making them large enough to fully cover window openings and stay inflated for a longer period of time, as well as activate for side collisions or rollovers.

Although the current air bags are safe, the new design is going to provide additional safety for passengers of the car.

“These new air bags are designed to prevent vehicle occupants from being ejected or partially ejected from a vehicle during a collision,” said Pierre Manoni of the media relations team for Transport Canada.

However, some people feel that altering airbags is not the only thing that should be focused on when it comes to safety features in vehicles.

“The engineering of new vehicles is an essential part to preventing injury,” said Diane Bradford, manager of the regional trauma program and injury prevention at Windsor Regional Hospital.

“We need to work with engineers for vehicles, roads and community design, law enforces and educates to prevent injury, air bags and car safety are but one part of the picture.”

Despite the new air bag laws only being required in the United States as of now, Transport Canada has a similar requirement that will come into effect Sept. 1 of next year.