Airbags in Cars Should be Mandatory in India
Over a year ago, I went hunting to buy a new car in Mumbai. The dealer showed me different variants. I found that the first two options fitted my budget well. When I dug deeper into how well it was equipped to protect me, I realized there were just no air bags. Not one. Not even for the driver's safety.
Over a year ago, I went hunting to buy a new car in Mumbai. The dealer showed me different variants. I found that the first two options fitted my budget well. When I dug deeper into how well it was equipped to protect me, I realized there were just no air bags. Not one. Not even for the driver’s safety.
“Arre Sir, the air bag system will be activated only when you crash at high speeds. And in Mumbai the average speed one clocks is less than 30 kmph,” a salesman smilingly explained. “So what’s the use of an air bag in the city?”
(Read More: What Should Buyers Look For To Ensure Car Is Safe?)
The entire aim is to sell more cars, even if it means compromising on security. The less the company invests on security functions, the cheaper the car, which means more the sales. It is this viciously dangerous cycle that has to be broken. Profits over lives has to be passé. (Read More: Safer Cars For India – Safety Must Remain A National Priority)
There is absolutely no law that makes it mandatory to have airbags in cars in India. That must change. Just as seats belts were once a novelty and are now mandatory. Just as drunken driving or talking on mobile phones at the wheel was once okay, but are now offences. (Read More: Attitudes Need Altering)
Safety will also hugely improve if pedestrians followed road discipline. Agreed, foot over bridges, zebra crossing and largely everything connected to roads in India are hardly made scientifically. But that cannot be an excuse to jump lights meant for pedestrians.
Green means walk. Red means wait. It is really as simple as that.
<More Blogs On Road Safety Week>
Also Read:
