The government has postponed the proposal to make six airbags mandatory in cars by one year till October 1, 2023. Earlier, keeping in view the safety of passengers, the government had made it mandatory to install six airbags in eight-seat trains.
The central government on Thursday deferred a proposal to make six airbags mandatory in cars by a year. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted today that the government has deferred the proposal to make six airbags mandatory in cars by a year to October 1, 2023. The government had made it mandatory to install six airbags in vehicles. This order was to be effective from October 1, 2022, but now this deadline will be pushed forward by a year.
The Union Minister in his tweet also gave the reason for the postponement of this proposal. He said that whatever the vehicle, whatever the cost or the variant, the safety of the passengers traveling in the motor vehicles is our topmost priority.
Considering the global supply chain constraints being faced by the auto industry and its impact on the macroeconomic scenario, it has been decided to implement the proposal mandating a minimum of 6 Airbags in Passenger Cars (M-1 Category) w.e.f 01st October 2023.
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) September 29, 2022
He said in another tweet, “In view of the disruptions being faced by the auto sector in the global supply chain, and its impact on the microeconomic level, it has now been decided that the passenger cars (M-1) Category) to postpone the proposal to make the rule of six airbags mandatory till October 1, 2023.
Car safety debate started after Cyrus Mistry’s death
Industrialist Cyrus Mistry died in a road accident earlier this month. After his death, there was a fresh debate about car safety features and what kind of protections should be given to the passengers in the event of such an accident. The Mercedes-Benz SUV in which industrialist Cyrus Mistry was traveling was equipped with all safety features but the absence of airbags for the back seat proved fatal for him.
After this, when questioned on this discussion in the first week of the month, Nitin Gadkari had said that the central government is considering making at least six ‘airbags’ mandatory for auto companies in eight-seat vehicles from October.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had said in a statement that it has been decided to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 for the safety of vehicle passengers, so as to enhance the safety of vehicles.
The Mercedes GLC 220D that crashed was also equipped with seven airbags, but not a single airbag that could protect the occupants from the front. Only the side airbags were present at the rear. Like any other car, airbags are a supplemental restraint system. The seat belt only does the job of the primary restraint system.
