Airbags must for front passengers in all cars

Hyderabad: In a significant step towards passenger safety, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed to make it mandatory for all automakers to offer airbags for front passengers on new vehicle models manufactured from April 1. Though airbags for drivers has been made mandatory in all cars since 2019, the ministry recently decided […]

Hyderabad: In a significant step towards passenger safety, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed to make it mandatory for all automakers to offer airbags for front passengers on new vehicle models manufactured from April 1. Though airbags for drivers has been made mandatory in all cars since 2019, the ministry recently decided to make airbags mandatory for a passenger seated on the front, next to the driver in all cars irrespective of their class in view of rising accidents in four-wheelers.

The proposed timeline for implementation of draft notification is from April 1 for new models and from June 1 for existing models. Vehicles manufactured in the case of existing models should be fitted with an airbag for the person occupying the front seat, other than the driver.

The government’s proposal on making dual front airbags mandatory is expected to prompt automakers to increase the price of the vehicles. Road safety experts, however, have welcomed the Centre’s move as it would improve passenger safety. This is a much-needed safety norm that should have been adopted long back in order to save lives during road accidents.

Vinod Kanumalla of the Indian Federation of Road Safety said that most of public going for small cars do not prefer airbags due to high prices. “If automakers come up with dual front airbags, then it would definitely boost passenger safety,” he said.

“Only airbags can help passengers in the front from being injured or dead. This move will benefit small cars as high-end vehicles would anyhow come up with four to eight airbags,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Centre has invited comments/ suggestions from all stakeholders to the following email address: comments-morth@gov.in on or before January 29.

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