Deadline for mandatory dual airbag regulation pushed to December 31

All cars on sale will now require to mandatorily be fitted with dual airbags from 2022. Previously, the deadline for mandatory fitment of dual airbags for all vehicles on sale was August 31, 2021, while all new cars launched since April 2021 already come fitted with standard dual airbags.

• Regulation delayed by four months owing to COVID-19
• Regulation would affect entry-level and budget cars
• Current regulations call for a mandatory driver airbag

What do you need to know?

Back in December 2020, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had issued a draft notification calling for the mandatory fitment of dual airbags. This was followed up by a Gazette notification that made it mandatory for all new cars to come fitted with dual airbags as standard from April 1, 2021 – a ruling already in force. The Gazette also lays down that all existing vehicles on sale would require to be equipped with dual airbags as standard by August 31. Currently all cars already on sale prior to April 1 are required to be fitted with a driver airbag as standard.

As per PTI, the ministry of road transport has now delayed the August 31 deadline to December 31 owing to the ongoing pandemic situation in the country.

What cars will it affect?

The main cars to be affected by the new regulations will be from the entry-level and budget hatchback segments where many cars still come equipped only with a driver airbag as standard. Prominent examples include the Maruti Alto, S-Presso and Wagon R, Datsun Redigo and Renault Kwid where a passenger airbag is currently available as a paid option or is standard only on the fully-loaded models.

Expect the new regulations to have a slight effect on the prices of the cars as well.