A squib driver circuit for deployment of an active safety restraint in a vehicle. The squib driver circuit may include a high side protection circuit. The high side protection circuit may include a comparator circuit to compare the input voltage to a reference voltage and activate a timer in response to the input voltage exceeding the reference voltage, the timer generating a disable signal to disable the high side driver after a predetermined period of time The high side protection circuit may disable the high side driver after a short is detected and elapse of the predetermined period of time. The squib driver circuit may be formed on a single chip.