Minimum Of Six Airbags Mandatory In Passenger Cars, Announces Gadkari. Know Effective Date

Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the government will implement the proposal mandating a minimum of six airbags in passenger cars.

New Delhi: Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced the implementation of the proposal mandating a minimum of six airbags in passenger cars (M-1 Category) from October 1, 2023.

In June, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said that the government will make it mandatory for carmakers to provide a minimum of six airbags in motor vehicles that can carry up to eight passengers for enhanced safety of occupants.

Gadkari had said that every year, around 1.5 lakh people are killed in five lakh accidents across the country. "We have decided to make it mandatory to provide a minimum of six airbags in motor vehicles... We want to save the lives of the people," the road transport and highways minister said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in January informed that to enhance the safety of occupants of motor vehicles against lateral impact, it has been decided to enhance safety features by amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989.

"A draft notification has been issued on January 14, 2022, which mandates that vehicles of category M1, manufactured after October 1, 2022, shall be fitted with two side/side torso air bags, one each for the persons occupying front row outboard seating positions, and two side curtain/tube air bags, one each for the persons occupying outboard seating positions," it had said.

An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system that interferes between the driver and the vehicle's dashboard during a collision, thereby preventing serious injuries.

"We need cooperation from all stakeholders (including automobile industry)," the Road Transport Minister had said in June.

His remarks come against the backdrop of the automobile industry raising concerns that high taxation and stricter safety and emission norms have made their products expensive.

Gadkari pointed out that all global automobile brands are available in India. He said that safe roads are very important while noting that effective implementation of the Motor Vehicles Act is a challenge.

The issue pertaining to airbags and seat belts for rear passengers gained attention recently after a fatal car crash on September 4 claimed the life of former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d 4MATIC despite having various safety features to protect passengers, lacks airbags for rear seats, just like other high-end cars.

Besides Mistry, his friend Jahangir Pandole also died in the accident. Both are said to have also not been wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

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