Minimum 6 Airbags To Be Made Mandatory In Vehicles That Can Carry Up To 8 Passengers

According to latest government data, total 1,16,496 road accidents occurred on national highways (NHs), including expressways, in 2020, causing 47,984 deaths.

New Delhi: The Central government has approved a draft notification making it mandatory for automobile manufacturers to provide a minimum of six airbags in motor vehicles that can carry up to eight passengers, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday. In a series of tweets, Gadkari, who is Minister for Road Transport and Highways, said the move will ultimately ensure the safety of passengers across all segments, irrespective of the cost and variant of the vehicle.

Gadkari informed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway had already mandated the implementation of the fitment of the driver airbag with effect from July 1, 2019, and front co-passenger airbag with effect from January 1, 2022.

The Ministry had already mandated the implementation of fitment of the driver airbag w.e.f 01st July 2019 and front co-passenger airbag w.e.f 01st January 2022. #RoadSafety #SadakSurakshaJeevanRaksha

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) January 14, 2022

The Minister said to minimise the impact of frontal and lateral collisions on the occupants seated in both front and rear compartments, the Centre has been decided that four additional airbags will be mandated in the M1 vehicle category (passenger vehciles comprising not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat). Of the four additional airbags, two will be side/side torso airbags and two will be side curtain/tube airbags covering all outboard passengers.

…i.e two side/side torso airbags and two side curtain/tube airbags covering all outboard passengers. This is a crucial step to make motor vehicles in India safer than ever. #RoadSafety #SadakSurakshaJeevanRaksha

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) January 14, 2022

According to latest government data, total 1,16,496 road accidents occurred on national highways (NHs), including expressways, in 2020, causing 47,984 deaths.

Last year, Gadkari in an interview to PTI had said small cars, mostly purchased by lower middle-class people, should also have an adequate number of airbags and had wondered why automakers are providing eight airbags only in big cars bought by rich people.

His remarks had come against the backdrop of the automobile industry raising concerns that high taxation and stricter safety and emission norms for vehicles have made their products expensive. Mostly, lower middle-class people buy small economy cars and “if their car won’t have airbags and when accidents happen, then it may result in deaths. So, I appeal to all car manufacturers to provide a minimum of six airbags across all variants and segments of the vehicle,” he had said.

The minister had acknowledged that additional airbags in small cars will increase their cost by at least Rs 3,000-4,000.

(With Inputs from PTI)