The Centre on Friday made it mandatory for all new cars to have airbags for front passenger seat in steps to improve safety in case of road accidents. Airbags for drivers was made mandatory in all cars since July 1, 2019.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in a gazette notification announced the rule that will require all new vehicles manufactured on and after April 1 to have dual front airbags as standard fitment.

Existing vehicles, on the other hand, will be required to be sold with dual airbags from August 31, the ministry said.

“Ministry has issued Gazette notification regarding mandatory provision of an airbag for passenger seated on front seat of a vehicle, next to driver,” the notification said. “This has been mandated as an important safety feature and is also based on suggestions of Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety,”

Airbag Mandatory in new cars

After the mandating provisions of airbags by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in the new cars. Car manufacturers companies as Maruti, Mahindra, Tata, Hyundai, Kia, Renault, Honda, MG Motors will have to provide airbags for the driver and front-seat passengers in all their cars.

“This has been mandated as an important safety feature, and is also based on the suggestions of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety,” the ministry said.

Recently, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari had said safety features such as airbags were being made mandatory across all variants of cars and irrespective of their cost. Airbags for drivers have been made mandatory in all cars since July 1, 2019. Just one airbag for the driver is inadequate since it leaves the co-passenger in the front seat vulnerable to serious injury, or even death, in case of a crash.