Hello, anybody tell if this is crucial, or can it be dealt with next service ?

Depending on what the cause is it can disable the airbags I think. Certainly not something to be taking chances with and should be looked at ASAP IMHO.

Do it soonest. It's one piece of kit everyone tries not to use, but I was very glad mine worked properly when I rolled my old ZX.

I take it no-one's disabled the airbag with the switch in the glovebox?

Welcome to Briskoda

I take it no-one's disabled the airbag with the switch in the glovebox?

That is purely for the front passenger airbag. Disabling the driver's airbag - even if possible - could have significant insurance payout implications in the unfortunate event of a crash and injury.

In this particular case, I would read the fault code and then consider clearing it.

I'm guessing here, but I'd not expect the warning light to stay on if you switched the passenger bag off, cos it then couldn't warn you of a fault with the driver's bag.

Oi, my earlier post wasn't just an idle comment, you know! Having switched off the passenger airbag on my car once, the light on the dash and on the instrument cluster stayed on for as long as I was in the car IIRC - just as the ASR light stays on as long as the traction control's switched off...

Of course if he doesn't have an airbag deactivation switch, it won't be that!