Does the installation of additional airbags increase the price of the vehicle? What are the international precedents for such a move?
Does the installation of additional airbags increase the price of the vehicle? What are the international precedents for such a move?
The story so far: The Indian government has proposed installing six airbags in all passenger cars to increase passenger safety. The proposal was published on January 14 this year, with all stakeholders invited to comment and object within 30 days.
What does the proposal say?
The General Regulatory Requirement Notification (GSR) states that all M1 category vehicles manufactured after October 1st this year must be equipped with two side torso airbags in the first row at the outboard seating positions. The Department for Roads and Motorways stated that it would be used on the seats or on the sides in the prescribed position in the vehicle. It added that deploying the inflatable airbag in the noted position would help mitigate upper body injuries or occupant ejection from the vehicle. The notification also requires curtain or tube airbags to be deployed to cushion the entire exterior of the vehicle. In the event of a rollover or impact, this would help mitigate head injuries. The notification informs that the requirement for such airbags would be reviewed in accordance with AIS-099 standards, which deal with the protection of occupants in a vehicle in the event of a side collision.
Responding to Rajya Sabha’s request, Union Minister for Road Transport and Motorways Nitin Gadkari said: “This was communicated to improve safety for vehicle occupants. In the event of a side impact, the side/torso airbags act as a buffer between the vehicle body and the occupants, absorbing the impact energy.” He added that the move would ultimately ensure passenger safety across all segments, regardless of the cost/variant of the vehicle.
What is the current legislation on airbags?
The ministry had previously mandated the use of airbags for the passenger in the front seat of the vehicle next to the driver for vehicles manufactured after April 1 last year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation schedule has been extended to December 31, 2021.
“This has been mandated as an important safety feature and is also based on suggestions by the Supreme Court’s Road Safety Committee,” State Minister for Heavy Industry Krishan Pal Gurjar told the Lok Sabha in December last year.
How are vehicle prices affected?
This was announced by the automotive market analyst JATO Dynamics Reuters that installing four additional airbags in vehicles would increase the cost by ₹17,600. “In some cases, the cost could be higher as companies need to make engineering changes to the vehicle structure to accommodate the additional airbags,” said the President of JATO Dynamics India Reuters. Additionally, the news outlet reported that the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has asked the ministry to “review and reconsider” the rules, as “side and curtain bags are not mandated anywhere else in the world.”
Mr Gadkari had said in the recently concluded Lok Sabha budget session that the car industry was upset at the announcement of vehicle price hikes. “…if a poor man dies, let him die and save the rich man, yes?” He said, adding: “From now on, every economic model … the smallest of the smallest, even nano-model, every car with six airbags must be mandatory to save people’s lives.”
He explained that the fixed cost of an airbag is determined by market forces and production volume. The Union Secretary said the approximate variable cost of four airbags (two side airbags and two curtain airbags) can vary between £5,600 and £7,000.
Will the move ensure safety in the event of a collision?
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), front airbags saved 50,457 lives between 1987 and 2017 — enough to fill a major league ballpark. It added airbags to prevent the passenger’s torso or head from hitting the interior of the vehicle in a crash. According to the traffic supervisory authority, passengers must also fasten their seat belts on the road. Mr Gadkari stated in the recently concluded parliamentary session that 8,598 lives could have been saved in 2020 in frontal collisions through the deployment of airbags. “Similarly, side collisions claimed 14,271 lives, and 31% of those or 4,424 lives could have been saved through the deployment of side airbags,” he said
The minister had informed the House of Commons in March that the government was adopting a multi-pronged strategy to address road safety issues based on education, technology (both roads and vehicles), enforcement and emergency response. Speaking of vehicle technology, Mr Gadkari told the House that automobile safety standards have been improved in terms of airbags, anti-braking systems (ABS), tires, crash testing, speed limiters and fire alarm and protection system compliance.
He also reminded the House of the February 15 notice that sets standards for the safety of children under the age of four riding or being carried on motorcycles. It stipulated the use of a seat belt and a crash helmet and limited the maximum speed to 40 km/h. He also referred to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, which introduced strict penalties to deter traffic violations and ensure strict enforcement.
THE ESSENTIALS
The government has proposed the installation of six airbags in all passenger cars (category M1) to improve passenger safety.
The Department for Roads and Motorways explained that these airbags would be deployed on the seats or on the sides in the prescribed position in the vehicle. Deployment of the inflatable air bag in the noted position would help mitigate upper body injuries or occupant ejection from the vehicle.
Automotive market analyst JATO Dynamics stated that fitting four additional airbags to vehicles would increase costs by ₹17,600.
