Government Intends To Finalise Six-Airbag Rule By Year-End To Enhance Road Safety

As part of a series of measures to improve safety and security, the Minister of Road Transport Nitin Gadkari expects to finalise laws mandating six-airbags in all cars by the end of the year.

It is already mandatory for the driver and front passenger to have airbags.

According to Gadkari, more than 150,000 people died in over 500,000 road accidents in India in 2021.

By the end of 2024, Gadkari said he hoped the initiatives would reduce traffic fatalities and accidents by half.

The draft guidelines mandating six airbags in all cars were released publicly in January and are expected to be finalised one month later. However, several automakers oppose the plan, arguing it will increase car prices.

Today (7 September), Nitin Gadkari said that the government intends to mandate that auto manufacturers install an alert system for rear seat belts to enforce their use. It will also audit all national highways to make them safer.

"Life safety is important for all people," Gadkari said, adding, "We've urged automakers to prioritise quality over price," reports Economic Times.

Gadkari continued by saying that since cars exported from India to other countries are already equipped with six airbags, the country may adopt them as well.

He stated that the administration intends to increase lane discipline and will talk with other state ministers about lowering highway speeds.

"There is no regard for the law, and non-compliance is not feared. If people don't change, we'll need to be more strict," he said.

He added that although stronger regulations won't be helpful by themselves, the government is striving to enforce them. One option is to raise the penalties for non-compliance.

According to the Ministry, airbags and seat belts would have helped at least one-third of the 39,000 individuals who died in car accidents in 2020 from head-on or side crashes avoid death.

According to government estimates, adding four additional airbags wouldn't cost more than $75.

However, according to JATO Dynamics, a source of auto industry statistics, expenses could rise by at least $231.

After Cyrus Mistry, the former head of the Indian giant Tata Sons, died in a car accident on Sunday (4 September), the discussion about road safety reignited again in the world's fourth-largest auto market.

Also Read: Wearing Seat Belt Will Be Mandatory For All Car Passengers: Nitin Gadkari