Six Airbags Compulsory Policy – All about Govt. Mandatory Six Airbags Compulsory Rule ✓ Benefits ✓ Overview ✓ Implimentation Date ✓ Cars Extra Cost ✓ Deaths in Road Accident ✓ 6 Airbag Cars below 15 lakh.
Overview
Concerns have been raised about the safety of passengers in vehicles sold in the Indian market. The government has taken several steps to address these concerns. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has approved the draft GSR notification to make minimum six airbags mandatory for motor vehicles carrying eight people.
According to Gadkari, he has recently approved the draft notification to make six airbags mandatory in eight-passenger vehicles. The government has already made it mandatory for all passenger vehicles to have at least two airbags. The requirement of airbags for the driver was implemented from July 2019, while it has become mandatory from January 1, 2022 for the co-passenger sitting in the front seat. Gadkari said that in order to keep the passengers safe by minimizing the impact of head-on collisions and side-to-side collisions, it has been decided that four other airbags should also be provided in the vehicles.
When will it be applicable?
Nitin Gadkari has told a great news to the customers. The journey of the car riders is going to be more safe as now it will be made mandatory to provide 6 airbags with 8-seater cars. Gadkari said that this new rule of road safety will be implemented from October 1, 2022 and in return for this feature, companies can increase the prices of cars by a big deal. Gadkari said that it has become very important now to strictly adopt the security standard in India. Vehicles and pedestrians can be made more secure with 6 airbags in large sized cars.
‘Travel can be made safe’
Gadkari said, “By providing two side airbags in the rear seat and two tube airbags, the journey will be made safe for all the passengers. This is an important step to make motor vehicles safer in India.” He said that the move to increase the number of airbags will go a long way in ensuring the safety of all types of vehicles and occupants of vehicles of all price ranges.
This will be applicable on all variants of the Car.
The road ministry had earlier issued a notification on July 1, 2019, making airb bags mandatory for the driver and front co-passenger with effect from January 1, 2022. After its implementation, the ministry has gone a step further and now approved the draft GSR notification to make 6 airbags mandatory for any vehicle or variant.
Death Toll in Road Accidents
India is one of the top countries with an alarmingly large number of road accidents recorded every year. A large number of deaths and serious injuries occur in these road accidents. Whereas traffic violations are attributed as the major reasons behind the accidents. But inadequate safety measures, especially in small entry-level vehicles, are also the cause of a large number of deaths.
According to government data, in the year 2020, a total of 1.16 lakh road accidents occurred on national highways in which 47,984 people died.
What will be the additional cost ?
According to some auto experts, adding 4 airbags for the rear seat passengers can cost between Rs 8,000-9,000. The cost of an airbag is around Rs 1,800. At the same time, changing the structure will cost Rs 500. The equipment and labor cost will also increase. In such a situation, the price of the car can be increased by about Rs 30,000-50,000 from all the expenses involved in 6 airbags in the entry level model. That is, now customers will have to increase the extra budget to buy a car.
How Airbags Work ?
The airbags open to protect the head and chest of the passenger in less than a second when hit with a vehicle from the front. This prevents the body from hitting the dashboard. Yes, the airbag must be fitted with a seat belt to give you complete protection. Airbags only hurt if seat belts are not fitted. There is also a possibility of injury to the face along with the fracture of the neck bone.
List of available 6-Airbag Cars below 15 lakhs.
1. Hyundai i20
The new i20 is currently one of the cheapest cars, offering 6 airbags with its Asta (O) variant as well as 6 airbags with a price tag of Rs 9.5 lakhs. The i20 is a premium hatchback with a sunroof among other features, but the fact that you get 6 airbags at this price makes it a high rank in our book in terms of safety.
2. Hyundai Venue
The Venue is a subcompact SUV and also gets 6 airbags. Venue offers it in its SX (O) trim. The Venue is available with diesel and petrol engines including a turbo petrol with DCT automatic gearbox. The Venue is one of the few subcompact SUVs that offers 6 airbags and then it is for the higher spec trims. The price of Venue with 6 airbags is Rs 11.3 lakh.
3. Hyundai Verna
The Verna is a midsize sedan but Hyundai has also offered this car with 6 airbags. The Verna with SX (O) trim gets 6 airbags. The Verna is also available with two petrol engine options, both of which are mated to an automatic gearbox. You can also get the Verna with a diesel engine which is available with a torque converter automatic gearbox. Verna with 6 airbags is available at a price of over Rs 11.1 lakh.
4. Honda City fifth Gen.
The fifth-generation City is the only car in Honda’s portfolio that offers six airbags from the mid-spec VX variant, which is priced from Rs 12.62 lakh onwards. The new Honda City offers both diesel and petrol engine options but the petrol engine offers a CVT gearbox as well.
5. Kia Sonet
The Sonet is the most affordable Kia car but the subcompact SUV also gets 6 airbags with the GTX+ trim in the Indian market. The Sonnet is available with two petrol engines, including a turbo petrol unit, while you can buy it with a diesel engine as well. Manual/automatic options are available with both the engines in the Sonet. The Sonnet with 6 airbags is available only with the top-end variant with the GTX trim priced at Rs 12.3 lakh.
6. Kia Carens
The newly launched Carens MPV, on the other hand, offers six airbags across all the variants, with the range starting at Rs 8.99 lakh. The Carens will come with two petrol engines and one diesel. Automatic gearbox will be available with its diesel engine and 1.4l turbo petrol.
7. MG Astor
The Aster falls in the Rs 15 lakh category with six airbags in the Sharp trim. The Aster is a compact SUV from MG and comes with various features but it is the six airbag feature that stands out. However, like most cars, it is available on top spec trims priced at Rs 14.28 lakh.
8. Mahindra XUV300
The XUV300 gets 7 airbags which makes it one of the safest SUVs out there. The XUV300 W8 (O) trim comes with this feature. The XUV300 adds a driver’s knee airbag to the current total of side and front airbags.
9. Toyota Glanza
Toyota’s new Glanza is essentially a badge-engineered version of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. It, too, features six airbags on the top two trims. The G trim, priced from Rs 8.24 lakh, is the least expensive Toyota to get six airbags.
10. Skoda India
With the launch of the new Slavia and Kushaq, all Skoda models now come with six airbags or more. The Style trims of both cars get side and curtain airbags. The 1.0-litre Style variant of the Slavia, priced from Rs 13.59 lakh, is the least expensive Skoda to offer six airbags.
11. Volkswagen Taigun
Like the Kushaq, the Taigun also offers six airbags on higher-end variants. The 1.0-litre Topline variant of the Taigun, which starts at Rs 14.57 lakh, is the most affordable Volkswagen to offer six airbags at the moment.