H.Kishie Singh is based in Chandigarh and has been a motoring correspondent for newspapers like The Statesman, New Delhi and The Tribune.His column ‘Good Motoring’, for The Tribune ran for over 27 years. He has been also been the contributing editor for magazines like Car & Bike, Auto Motor & Sport and Auto India. His latest book Good Motoring was published recently and has co-authored a book with The Dalai Lama, Ruskin Bond, Khuswant Singh and others, called The Whispering Deodars.


Saturday 23 January 2021

AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELTS

 


 DUAL AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT. A MUST

A couple of years ago I wrote about airbags in my column, Good Motoring.

Airbags have now been made mandatory for the front seats. About time! Passenger safety is of the utmost importance.

This is the column from years ago.

Husband; Darling! Come see. I have got the new car. Let’s go for a drive.

Wifey goes and gets all dressed up to go for a drive in her new car.

They get into the car, buckle up and zoom off.

Wifey is thrilled. At each red light Husband explains all the gadgets and gizmos in the car.

She scans the dashboard and with a surprised look asks, “Honey I don’t see any warning about the airbag?”

“The car only has one!”, says Husband.

She coughs chokes, splutters and snarls. “You cheap b*@#&*! Always thinking about yourself. You got an airbag. Not a thought about me. What happens in case of an accident? I’ll die! You want to kill me!”

“Take me home right away. And take the damn car back to the dealer!”

As usual there seems to be some confusion on this issue.

Two years ago the Road Transport Ministry had proposed that two airbags be mandatory on all cars. A very sensible decision!

Somehow, somewhere along the way this clause was ignored. Maybe it was thought not necessary or just got left out by mistake. Then in a meeting with the auto industry it was decided that the driver’s side airbag was mandatory. This was AIS-145 Notification and applied to cars in the M-1 category, taxis and entry level cars. Doesn’t make sense!

Tests over the years have shown, in case of a crash, unconsciously, the driver tries to save himself, regardless of who else is in the car with him. In these circumstances the driver has an airbag and nothing for the co-driver. So much for safety!

It is now being considered to bring in a clause for at least two frontal airbags.

While buying a car the Indian buyer is more interested in gadgets and gizmos. Please pay attention to safety fitments. Airbags and seatbelts save lives. Road conditions on our roads are the most dangerous in the world. You need front airbags. Side airbags should also be made mandatory if the passenger’s safety is to be ensured.

Some years ago, Toyota brought out a sedan, an intra-city sedan. It had no music system, no fancy gizmos to speak of. And yes, it had only one wiper! But it had two airbags. Cost cutting measures, but providing safety!

This was a very conscious effort to improve the passenger’s safety. No radio. Nothing to distract the driver’s attention!

Believe it or not, one of the greatest distractions in the car is the music system which has now evolved into an ‘infotainment system’. This was established 25 years or more ago. Today, the touch screens, voice command operations, GPS and other such gizmos surely take the driver’s attention off the road. Beware!

As of the 1st of April, 2021, all new cars will need to have airbags for the front two passengers. This is the Law. It is no April Fool’s joke!

‘All new cars’? What does this mean? A car manufactured after 1st of April? What about a car manufactured in March 2021 but with a single airbag?

If there are any manufacturers who have cars with a single airbag, for the driver only, they may face some problems.

It is not possible to simply fit an airbag. Certainly not in three months. The assembly line has not been geared for this procedure. Airbags are also expensive. This cost will have to be factored into the manufacturing cost and the final price of the car.

It is not a simple fitment that can be fitted after the car has been manufactured.

It leads me to believe that the person who drafted this Law had no knowledge of airbags and how they function.

A year’s notice would have been more practical for the manufacturer.

And why this working in fits and starts?

In July 2019 the Law for the driver’s airbag was passed, please note only the driver. Did the person who drafted this not know that there are two seats in front? 

It would have made so much sense, especially for the manufacturer.

While this Law was being drafted, somewhere, somehow seat belts should have been mentioned.

Since the focus was on the safety of drivers, mo’bike riders should have been included. They all come under the same umbrella. Safety on the roads, whoever it may be, driver or rider!

A notification has been passed that as of 1st June only Bureau of Indian Standards, BIS, helmets can be manufactured and sold in India.

Another very important point; we are not a well educated motoring nation. Even the well educated are indisciplined. There are still first time car owners and they will not read the owner’s manual to educate themselves.

Seat belts and airbags are two separate safety devices but must, repeat MUST be used together!

Many people are of the impression that since the car has airbags, one need not use seat belts. No! No! No! An airbag exploding in your face plus the force of the impact throwing you forward may result in a very serious injury, upto and including death!

The seat belt is a passive safety device. Once you hear the click of the lock, the seat belt is performing the function it was designed for. It holds you securely in your seat. The airbag is an active safety device. It works only in case of a frontal collision. The sensors are usually placed in the front bumper.

In case of a rear end collision, you will be thrown backwards. This is referred to as whiplash. That’s when the headrests come in handy. They prevent your head being thrown back and your neck from snapping!

Some cars have adjustable headrests. They can be removed. Ladies remove them because it messes up their hairstyle. Sardars remove them because it upsets their turbans. Better a messed up hairstyle or upset turban than a snapped neck!

This is also when the seat belt will hold you in your seat.  So, three different safety devices, three different functions!