All Cars will Soon Need to Have 6 Airbags

NEW DELHI: After implementation of mandatory fitment of two airbags for driver and passengers on the front seats across all models of cars, including in the cheapest ones, the transport ministry will now expedite the mandatory installation of four more airbags for the rear seat passengers.

Sources said the market leaders have indicated that the cost of the four airbags and the necessary changes in vehicles would cost around Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000. They said this additional cost will go a long way in protecting passengers in the cars.

The government had made the fitment of two airbags across all new models of cars from last year and this mandatory norm for all existing models came into force from January 1. Sources said the cost of each airbag would be around Rs 1,800 and the cost towards the necessary modification in vehicles would be around Rs 400 or Rs 500. The cost would be reduced for cars sold in large numbers.

Last year, Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari had urged the car manufacturers to provide six airbags for all cars irrespective of their costs to improve occupant safety. The airbag manufacturers were asked to come up with the suggestive cost.

According to the road accident data published by the National Crime Record Bureau, 17,538 car occupants died in road crashes, which accounts to around 13% of the total road fatalities in the country.

While the ministry’s thrust to improve occupant safety in cars is seen as a progressive move what remains a concern is the poor compliance of seatbelt wearing by occupants on the rear seats despite it’s being mandatory as per law. This is because the efficiency of the airbags is more only when the passengers are wearing seatbelts.

Globally, there is focus to improve vehicle safety by upgrading the safety features.

Source: ToI