Government looks to make airbags mandatory in all cars

In a bid to address the high rate of road accidents and fatalities, the government is planning a slew of safety measures including mandatory airbags in cars. It has also earmarked Rs 11,000 crore to fix accident spots across India.

By Autocar Pro News Desk

12 Jan 2016

8023 Views

Speaking at the 'Road Safety Week' function, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, said that airbags will be made compulsory in every car

The ‘Road Safety Week’, which began yesterday, was launched by Union Home minister Rajnath Singh at a function in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari and Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan.

Speaking on the occasion, Singh called upon all stakeholders to play an effective role in ensuring safety on roads. Expressing concern about the 500,000 road accidents that take place in the country every year in which about 140,000 lakh people lose their lives and injure over 500,000, Singh said that there is a need for proper training of drivers before they are issued driving licenses.

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, addressing the flag-off ceremony of the 'Road Safety Walk', in New Delhi on January 11. The Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh; Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan and other dignitaries are also seen. Photo: PIB.

Meanwhile, Nitin Gadkari announced a number of measures to address the problem. He said that a website is being launched to help in identifying ‘black spots’ where accidents take place frequently. People can send information about such spots to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) which will further take up the issue with the concerned authorities. He added that the work on 10 black spots in Delhi is being taken up immediately. Gadkari also announced that Rs 11,000 crore is being earmarked in the next five years to fix black spots across the country.

Expressing concern over the way driving licenses are issued, Gadkari said that training schools are being opened and computers will be used for conducting driving tests. He also emphasised the use of seatbelts and helmets and appealed to people not to use mobile phones while driving. Gadkari added that airbags will be made compulsory in every car.

Gadkari also announced that a Road Safety Authority will be constituted and a Road Transport and Safety Bill will be placed shortly before Parliament. He asked people to take a resolve on road safety and bring down road accidents by 50 percent in the next five years.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that the issues of road safety and health safety are interlinked. He said that spirit of road safety will have to be inculcated in every child. He also emphasised on a policy on design of speedbreakers.

A Road Safety Walk, ‘Walkathon’ was also flagged off by the ministers from India Gate on the occasion. It had been organised by the Ministry in association with Delhi Police and Society for Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) to create awareness about road safety among general public and to solicit their active participation in the road safety movement.

The Road Safety Week is organised every year to create awareness among general public to improve the safety on road and to give an opportunity to all stakeholders to contribute to the cause of road safety.