Quote Originally Posted by KamiQuazi
why can't we go back to the days when you had to manually turn it off. No one could mess that up. No passenger, turn the thing off. lol
Simple answer: People are stupid.
One person may be smart, but people as a whole are idiots. It only takes one person to accidentally leave the key switch off and have someone do a windshield dive to make it to where manually controlled airbags are no longer standard. If the system is controlled by people, it is not idiot proof, and unless they can make common sense a standard option when someone buys a car, they can't chance it. In the end, someone will sue the company for their own stupidity. If it was manual, the first time the idiot (noted above) lets his or her buddy or family member take a windshield dive, Chevy gets sued for not having the airbags automatic.
It is a no-win situation for GM, so for them, it is better to have it automatic, even though it may be an annoyance, because it clears them of any liability for stupid people's mistakes.
Having the lights on all the time, is another liability issue for GM. If the system is not working peoperly, the lights tell you. If one does not heed the signs, again, GM is cleared of liability.
Twisted, turned, mixed up, mis-understood, and sometimes, mis-represented, I know. But it is all about covering thy own arse.
Think of it this way, if someone can sue McDonalds for not having "Caution-HOT" notices on their hot coffee, the tire company for a blow out, the car company for the bumpy ride, and make millions of dollars off of it (not touching the "mental pain and anguish of a coffee burn"). They can, and will sue for anything, and if you think someone is not looking to take a chunk out of the GM lawsuit fund, may want to re-read the common judgements for the last couple years under "frivolous lawsuits" (did I spell that right?).