Passenger air bag disable switch

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for a vehicle having a rotatable ignition, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• an inflator actuatable to inflate said inflatable device in response to sensing a condition indicative of a vehicle collision;
• an optical transmitter for providing a light beam extending in a first direction;
• an optical receiver for receiving said light beam from said optical transmitter;
• and
• a vehicle ignition key for rotating the ignition, said ignition key being movable only linearly into a position between said transmitter and said receiver to block said light beam, said ignition key having a solid shaft;
• and
• vehicle electric circuitry having a first condition enabling actuation of said inflator and a second condition disabling actuation of said inflator;
• said vehicle electric circuitry changing between the first condition and the second condition in response to the prevention of at least a part of said light beam from being directed to said optical receiver by the linear insertion and immediate removal of said vehicle ignition key between said transmitter and said receiver.