In order to reduce the impact of front and lateral collisions on both the front and rear compartments, it has been decided to make 4 additional airbags mandatory in the M1 vehicle category.
The road transport ministry has said that it will make it mandatory for car makers to provide at least six airbags in motor vehicles that can carry up to 8 passengers for the safety of passengers from October this year.
In a statement, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said that in order to enhance the safety of the occupants of the motor vehicle against side impact, it has been decided to enhance the safety features by amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR). 1989.
“A draft notification has been issued on January 14, 2022, which states that M1 class vehicles manufactured after October 1, 2022 shall be equipped with two side/side torso air bags, one for each person in the front row. There shall be an outboard seating position, and two side curtain/tube air bags, one each for persons sitting on the outboard,” it said.
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system that intervenes between the driver and the vehicle’s dashboard during a collision, preventing serious injuries. In a series of tweets, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had said that his ministry has made it mandatory for driver airbags and front co-passenger airbags to be implemented from January 1, 2022, with effect from July 1, 2019.
Mr Gadkari had said, “In order to enhance the safety of the riders in motor vehicles carrying up to 8 passengers, I have now approved the draft GSR notification to make at least 6 airbags mandatory.” Here GSR stands for Common Statutory Rule.
He further said that in order to reduce the impact of front and lateral collisions on both the front and rear coaches, it has been decided that 4 additional airbags will be made mandatory in the M1 vehicle category.
“… that is, two side/side torso airbags and two side curtain/tube airbags that cover all outboard passengers. This is an important step in making motor vehicles in India safer than ever before,” he said.
According to Mr Gadkari, this will ultimately ensure the safety of passengers in all segments, irrespective of the cost/type of vehicle, as per the latest government data, a total of 1,16,496 road accidents occurred on National Highways (NHs), including expressways, in2020, Due to which 47,984 deaths occurred.
Last year, Mr. Gadkari in an interview PTI He said that small cars, which are mostly bought by the lower middle class people, should also have adequate number of airbags and thought that automakers were providing eight airbags only in big cars bought by rich people. .
His remarks came against the backdrop of the automobile industry raising concerns that high taxation and stricter safety and emission norms for vehicles have made their products costlier.
Mostly, lower middle class people buy small economy cars and “if their car will not have airbags and when accidents happen, it can result in death. Therefore, I recommend all car manufacturers to provide at least six airbags in all”. type and section of the vehicle,” he had said.
The minister had admitted that the additional airbags in small cars would increase their cost by at least Rs 3,000-4,000.
Elaborating further, the statement said that “Side/Side Torso Airbag” means any inflatable occupant restraint device that is mounted on the seats or side structures of the interior of the vehicle, and which is primarily designed for torso injury and injury. Designed to be deployed in crashes to help reduce / or side effects. Occupant ejection, for persons sitting in the front row outboard seating position.
Side curtain/tube airbag means any inflatable occupant restraint device that is mounted on the side structure of the interior of a vehicle, and which is designed to be deployed in a side impact crash or rollover so as to be primarily for people Head injury and/or occupant ejection can be reduced. Occupy the outboard seating position.
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