Rule of six airbags in cars extended; Nitin Gadkari said…

News Agency, New Delhi: The central government has postponed by a year the proposal to make six airbags mandatory in cars. The proposal will now come into effect from October 1, 2023. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari gave this information on Thursday. Earlier, for the safety of passengers, the government had made it mandatory to install six airbags in eight-seater vehicles. This order was to come into effect from October 1, 2022. With a view to enhancing the safety of motor vehicle passengers, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had said earlier this year that it has decided to amend the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 to enhance safety features.

Mandatory for M1 vehicles

In a notification issued by the government on January 14, the ministry had made it mandatory to install six airbags in M1 category vehicles manufactured from October 1, 2022. In the event of an accident, the airbag acts as a ‘shield’ and protects the driver from hitting the dashboard.

Gadkari said…

Given the constraints in the global supply chain, the automobile industry is facing a supply chain problem. In view of its impact on the wider economy, it has been decided to implement the proposal to make at least six airbags mandatory in passenger cars from October 1, 2023. – Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways

– Regardless of the price and type of motor vehicle, the safety of all passengers traveling in these vehicles is the highest priority.

– Airbags protect the driver and the vehicle’s dashboard during a vehicle crash. This can prevent serious injury.

Most accidental deaths

According to the data of ‘National Crime Records Bureau’, more than 1.55 lakh people died in road accidents across the country in 2021. There were an average of 426 deaths per day or 18 deaths every hour. This is the highest number of deaths recorded in any calendar year so far.