Govt makes 6 airbags mandatory for all cars carrying upto 8 passengers

Nitin Gadkari (File photo)

Government of India has mandated the use of 6 airbags on all vehicles carrying upto 8 passengers. In a series of Tweet, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari mentioned that he has approved a Draft GSR Notification to make a minimum of 6 Airbags compulsory. As per Gadkari, the airbags have been made mandatory for the M1 vehicle category. For the unititated, as the M1 category means a motor vehicle used for the carriage of passengers, comprising not more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat.

"In order to enhance the safety of the occupants in motor vehicles carrying upto 8 passengers, I have now approved a Draft GSR Notification to make a minimum of 6 Airbags compulsory. #RoadSafety #SadakSurakshaJeevanRaksha" said Nitin Gadkari in his tweet. 

He further stated "The Ministry had already mandated the implementation of fitment of the driver airbag w.e.f 01st July 2019 and front co-passenger airbag w.e.f 01st January 2022."

In order to enhance the safety of the occupants in motor vehicles carrying upto 8 passengers, I have now approved a Draft GSR Notification to make a minimum of 6 Airbags compulsory. #RoadSafety #SadakSurakshaJeevanRaksha

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) January 14, 2022

"To minimise the impact of frontal and lateral collisions to the occupants seated in both front and rear compartments, it has been decided that 4 additional airbags be mandated in the M1 vehicle category, .i.e two side/side torso airbags and two side curtain/tube airbags covering all outboard passengers. This is a crucial step to make motor vehicles in India safer than ever."

"This will ultimately ensure the safety of passengers across all segments, irrespective of the cost/variant of the vehicle."

The announcement comes at a time when India is celebrating National Road Safety Week 2022 from January 11-18. India is one of the worst countries when it comes to road safety and the number of deaths in road accidents is highest in the world.