Six Airbags for Passenger Cars to be Effective from October 2023

Posted on: Oct 10, 2022 | | Written by:

Six Airbags for Passenger Cars to be Effective from October 2023

Published on October 06, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

Six Airbags Rule to be Effective from October 2023

Car insurance is important and has been designed in the interest of the driver. Steps are constantly taken to ensure driving a car becomes safer. The mandate to sell all cars with two airbags came only in January 2022. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had planned to introduce even more airbags to make cars safer. The 6-airbag rule was set to commence from the 1st of October 2022. The additional airbags combined with car insurance aim at improving the safety of the passengers of a car. Here are all the details.

What is the 6 Airbag Rule?

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had put forward a proposal to make it mandatory for all passenger vehicles to have 6 airbags. The 6-airbag rule was supposed to get into effect from the 1st of October 2022. And it would apply to passenger vehicles that are eight-seaters. The rule was brought into effect to make vehicles safer and for better safety of passengers. Considering the ongoing supply chain challenges that the automotive industry is facing and the impacts that it has had on the macroeconomics, the decision to implement 6 airbags has been deferred. The proposed 6 airbag rule will now be effective from the 1st of October 2023.

Importance of Airbags

A vehicle has different safety systems installed to ensure that the passengers and drivers are safe in the case of an accident. The presence of airbags is one such safety measure. They are essentially deflated cushions that are carefully fitted in the car. When your car senses any crash or collision, it deploys the airbags. These ensure that the passenger and the driver of the car do not hit any of the parts of the car or any other objects in the car. The deployment of airbags can drastically improve the safety of passengers and reduce the chances of serious injuries. Suppose your car meets with an accident, either with another vehicle or object, such as a tree. The sensor measures the impact. And if it is severe enough, it will deploy the airbags. The deflated cushions are filled with a harmless gas, which then protects the driver and passengers. Without airbags, passengers could crash against different objects in the car, such as the steering wheel, windshield, windows, or dashboard. And these can lead to serious injuries.

What could be the Challenges?

The 6-airbag rule aims to make 6 airbags a standard offering for passenger vehicles. Though it greatly improves the safety of the passengers of the car, there are some concerns about the budget of the car. The addition of 6 airbags would eventually result in a price hike.

For example, the front airbags of entry-level cars cost anywhere between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 10,000. The price of curtain airbags or side airbags would easily be double. Thus, the price of installing 6 airbags can increase the price of the car up to Rs. 50,000.

The second challenge comes in the form of re-engineering. The original cars were not designed to handle 6 airbags. Thus, their addition would need some re-engineering to the car.

Are Airbags Safer than Seatbelts?

Airbags and seatbelts work in conjunction to provide the highest safety possible during a crash to the driver and the passenger. Damage to the car can be taken care of by a car insurance policy, but the safety of the driver is more important. If your car has both options, relying solely on one of them to protect you might not be the smartest thing to do. Wearing your seatbelt offers a lot of protection and combined with airbags, they reduce the chances of any serious injuries.

People who do not wear their seatbelts and rely only on airbags tend to have more fatal injuries. The role of a seatbelt is to prevent you from lunging forward into the dashboard or through the windshield. Thus, relying on both mechanisms together is a much safer option.

How will the 6 Airbag Rule Affect You?

Once the airbag rule comes into effect, it will have two different types of impacts on you as a consumer. To start things, the presence of 6 airbags will vastly improve the safety of passengers in the car. It would also enhance the crash rating of the car that it is installed on.

This also paves the way for more stringent car safety measures that Indian cars have been lacking for a while now. Once this rule is implemented, one can expect some more safety measures to be made mandatory on cars.

On the flip side, the addition of new airbags can result in a price hike for the cars. Though the manufacturers and the government would absorb some of the initial impacts of the hike, some of it will eventually have to be borne by the consumers.

Will 6 Airbags Result in Price Hikes?

The inclusion of additional airbags will likely result in a hike in car price. Depending on the type of car, the price of an airbag might differ. However, car manufacturers might increase the price of their cars by as much as Rs. 65,000 to accommodate the additional airbags. This only includes the price of the additional 4 airbags since two airbags are already present.

Yet this does not cover the expenses that are related to structural changes in specific car models that have not been designed for 6 airbags. Those could additionally bump up the price a bit more as well.

When did the 6 Airbags Rule Come to Action?

The 6 airbags rule was set to commence from the 1st of October 2022. However, owing to issues in the supply chain for auto manufacturers and the impact that it has had on the macro economy, the rule is pushed back for the time being.

It was recently announced that the 6 airbags rule has been deferred by the year and will come into effect from the 1st of October 2023.

Are Airbags Covered in Your Insurance Policy?

If you opt for third party car insurance, it will not cover airbags. However, comprehensive car insurance policies cover airbags. However, you might not get total compensation for claims related to an airbag. Since the rate of depreciation applies to airbags, you will not receive total compensation. This is one of the reasons you must choose the right add-on for your car insurance policy.

How to Choose the Right Airbags for Your Car

The following are the different types of airbags that are available.

- Front Airbags: These are the most common types of airbags and they deflate from the dashboard and steering wheel of the car.

- Curtain Airbags: These airbags are installed in the backrest and ensure that it covers the space between you and the doors of the car.

- Knee Airbags: These are available just below the dashboard and protect your knees from severe impacts.

- Seat Belt: An inflatable seat belt is another safety feature that can protect the passengers of the car.

If your car manufacturer is offering the above as an option, you should consider taking them.

Conclusion

The changes in regulations will only make cars a bit safer in increments. Apart from that, opting for a car insurance policy will offer you an added level of safety. A comprehensive car insurance policy usually offers the higher coverage that one would need. And if that is not enough you can take the help of add-ons. If you do not claim your insurance, you are entitled to no claim bonus. And no claim bonus can help you reduce your policy premiums as well.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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