![]() | #271 | |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Pune
Posts: 807
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Left to customers, airbags as standard fitment will take ages to reach. Sometimes, it is the government that must "what's good for us" mandatory - personally, I oppose that sort of thinking where others are unaffected, like helmets for two wheelers. I wear one, but I don't ask it to be made mandatory. | |
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![]() | #272 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 1,266
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We may ALL be here for business, but for humanity sake, when a product puts lives at stake, any decent person/brand doesn't wait for Government Regulations. They should've built it in themselves. In any other sector, competition hasn't been allowed to leave the customers/users vulnerable to death when the rate of accidents AND the risk of death is SO high. This nonsense has happened only in the Auto sector. | |
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![]() | #273 | ||
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
IMHO the helmet issue is a whole different animal. (Flame suit on) in some of our hot cities wearing a helmet can be unbearable in the heat, and someone may (stupidly of course) choose not to wear one for a very short ride from say, house to main road (which I still wouldn't), so I am also personally against mandating it. But having airbags in the car or wearing a seatbelt certainly doesn't cause any discomfort, it shouldn't hurt anyone to make these mandatory. Quote:
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![]() | #274 | ||
Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 11,949
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The manufacturer will tell my cars are complying with the Indian standards stated so why should I mandate any safety gadgets in all variants. And if pressurised they say, "there is no such rule that exists in the MV Act that all variants should have safety includes." How do tout tackle such situations?! Worst comments heard on safety features: 1) Drive slow, that is best, why ABS and Airbags. 2) We all drive at 40 kmph, why ABS at such speeds. Quote:
What logic is this of not mandating a helmet but mandating a seatbelt / airbag? Helmets are for our safety and NOT for the law, it is good if it worm ALWAYS. I am not saying to wear an helmet for a very short ride but the daily commute that is done by the public, need helmets ma. It protects us from the environmental hazards, accidents. When there is safety option available in the top end variant or as an option in the mid variant, or doesn't sell. All that sells is bare bones. Who is to be blamed? The manufacturer or the Government or the Public? I'd say ALL three are equally to be blamed for this situation today. Anurag. Last edited by a4anurag : 26th July 2014 at 08:17. | ||
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![]() | #275 | |
BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
and its true that even the luxury cars can't save u from a crash like u quoted the Diana incident. However I feel the odds are much better if u r in a safer -air bag equipped - car. NOTE FROM T-BHP SUPPORT: Please avoid typing...like...this... Refer the Announcements and general-posting-etiquette before proceeding. Thanks. Last edited by suhaas307 : 6th August 2014 at 13:12. Reason: See note in post | |
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![]() | #276 |
BHPian ![]() | ![]() Read a news report that the india spec swift and Datsun go gets a 0 rating in Latin NCAP tests. Anyone got more info? |
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![]() | #277 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...tests-too.html | |
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![]() | #278 |
Newbie Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 14
Thanked: 31 Times
| ![]() Of course we must have cars that pass NCAP or UN or other recognized crash test benchmarks. In fact, media reports suggest that airbags will become mandatory in India from Oct 2015. But it is worth getting some perspective on the data in this debate. The National Crime Records Bureau run by the Home ministry has data on accidental deaths in India and p13 of Chapter 1 has the breakup of road fatalities for the year 2012. Of a total of 1,39,000 road fatalities in 2012, the major causes in decreasing order were: two-wheelers 23%, lorries 19%, cars, 10%, and buses 9.4% Which means that about 14,000 people died in car crashes in India in 2012. This compares to 12,000 car crash fatalities in the US in the same year -- a country with far better road safety standards. Just saying. References: India data: http://ncrb.nic.in/CD-ADSI-2012/acci...-deaths-11.pdf US data: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811856.pdf |
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![]() | #279 |
Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Delhi
Posts: 5,396
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| ![]() What you are ignoring in the above figure is the total number of cars plying on USA roads vs Indian roads. The overall % will then be much much more smaller for USA. |
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![]() | #280 | |
BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Gurgaon
Posts: 376
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![]() Last edited by reppy : 8th November 2014 at 07:52. | |
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![]() | #281 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: BOM - ATL
Posts: 553
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| ![]() I don't know if this point has been discussed here before, but what about the fact that in developed countries, people get killed INSIDE cars, whilst in India, a majority of car related deaths are OUTSIDE cars. Isn't it high time we make traffic rules more strict, and create awareness about proper driving ? As for Airbags and ABS, companies clearly don't want them since they will increase costs, reduce profits and more importantly - reduce the customer base. In a heavily price conscious economy, even a Rs 10,000 price hike can deter buyers. Car companies will lobby with the government over this, but I feel the government should put its foot down about safety, rather than bow down to the carmaker lobby. |
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![]() | #282 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
When we purchased our Swift in 2008, the cost (VDi ABS) was 5.32 lakhs. Now it is 6.39 lakhs. That is more than 15000 hike per year on an average. How can the common man suddenly afford the car if the 15k hike is due to raw materials cost increase? Last edited by zenren : 23rd November 2014 at 15:12. Reason: updated with exact price | |
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![]() | #283 | |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: BOM - ATL
Posts: 553
Thanked: 547 Times
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Unless you educate people about how safety is important, they will always keep thinking of ABS/Airbags as "unnecessary expenses". The Indian perception of safety is heavily disillusioned by its compromising attitude. | |
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![]() | #284 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Somewhere in MH
Posts: 418
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| ![]() This video simulates what happens inside a car when it crashes in slow motion. Worth a look. Also a point that to be noted is not to have loosely kept objects inside the car cabin. |
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![]() | #285 | |
Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() | ![]() Quote:
Though increasing the price may effect some fence sitters I don't think it will cause a dent in the overall sales as such. Price difference for adding ABS + Air bags as discussed in this thread will be only couple of thousand rupees. The real issue car manufactures will face is if they are asked to take mandatory crash tests. This will be a tool for a better rated car maker to project against a lesser rated one, which may lead to equipping cars better for crash protection (structurally). I guess this may be the expensive part compared to adding couple of airbags and ABS. Coming back to value for money proposition for safety kits. I would like to list out few points, based on my interaction with new car buyers.
This discussion was during difference instances which involved purchase of 4 cars. All these comments are from well to do car buyers. Well, none of them blink an eye for spending 30K plus on mobile or 60K plus on LED TV's. Now, should add all of them are first time car buyers upgrading from two-wheeler for varied reason - getting married, about to get married, becoming a parent etc. In all the cases, though money is a concern it was not the only reason for dropping the safety kit. First, they did not find value in spending for the safety kit. And then, opting safety kit means you to put almost 10 - 15 % more, since you are opting for a higher variant. However, after buying the Swift and some 15K KMS & 2 years one of my friend now plans to upgrade to a bigger vehicle. He now says ABS is mandatory for his next vehicle. Reason? He had a bad experience on highway when wheels of his Swif LDi locked on hard breaking. Lucky for him and other vehicle on road it did not result in an accident. Hence I guess, government mandated safety feature list is fine. However along with that there should be awareness about the equipment. | |
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