New Delhi: Following the implementation of the mandatory fitment of two airbags for the driver and two front seats for the passengers in all models of cars, the Ministry of Transport will now accelerate the compulsory fitment of four more airbags for the rear seat passengers . According to sources, market leaders have indicated that the price of the four airbags and the required changes to the vehicles would be around Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000. He said that this additional cost would go a long way in helping the safety of the passengers in the cars.
The government had introduced two airbags in all new models of cars from last year and this mandatory norm for all existing models came into effect from January 1. Sources said that each airbag would cost around Rs 1,800 and that the necessary modifications to the vehicles would be around Rs 400 or Rs 500, while the cost would come down for cars that are sold in large numbers.
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Last year, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had urged car manufacturers to provide six airbags for all cars, regardless of their cost, to improve their safety, prompting airbag manufacturers to come up with a suggestive cost. was said.
According to the road accident data published by the National Crime Records Bureau, 17,538 car riders died in road accidents, which is about 13% of the total road accidents in the country. While the ministry’s push to improve the safety of passengers in cars is seen as a progressive step, poor use of seatbelts by rear seat occupants despite being mandated by law remains a concern. This is because the accuracy of the airbag is high only when the passengers are wearing seatbelts.