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Crash sensors are used for crash detection and initiation of squibs in Airbag and Seat Belt Tensioner Systems. A new single point electronic sensor has been developed that incorporates a dual piezoelectric accelerometer to measure the deceleration in the passenger compartment. This concept achieves the required fail safe operation without a mechanical safing switch. A conventional microcomputer and sophisticated crash discrimination algorithms are used to reach the deployment decision. Supplementary functions include monitoring of squib and wiring harness integrity and storing of fault codes as well as a “crash journal” in a non-volatile memory. INFLATABLE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, commonly called “AIRBAGs”, are designed to protect the occupants in automobile accidents against severe injuries. The life saving potential of such an air cushion becomes evident if one realizes that the impact of a body moving at 30 miles per hour corresponds to a free fall from a 10 m high diving tower.