TN bans installation of crash guards on cars, two-wheelers

CHENNAI: Planning to install a crash guard in order to protect the bumper and give your car a stylish look? Here is some bad news.
The state transport department has banned installation of crash guards and bull bars on cars and other vehicles, including two-wheelers. This is the latest in the series of reforms introduced by the government to reduce the road accident rate.Crash guards or bull bars are fitted on cars, mostly SUVs, in the crumple zone directly on the chassis or frame. These accessories, made of steel or plastic and costing between Rs 4,000 and Rs 10,000, give the impression that it will limit damage to the car during accident.
“But it seldom serves the intended purpose. These fittings are posing a serious there to not only the occupants inside the vehicle but also pedestrians,” a senior official in the state transport department told TOI. “Bull bars attached to two-wheelers, particularly those protruding out, pose a threat to passers-by,” the official said.
Every car is designed to absorb maximum shock during crashes and so many tests are conducted to ensure safety. Modifying this design by fitting such accessories in the crumple zone (bumpers) might protect the engine, compressors and other parts during low-impact crashes but would not protect occupants during high-impact crashes, said mechanics.
Bull bars generally weigh around 15kg to 40kg. “This extra weight disturbs the stability of the vehicle when it plies above 80kmph thereby making it increasingly difficult for the driver to control the vehicle,” said J Vignesh, a city-based car mechanic. Besides this, the increased weight reduces the mileage by 10%.
These accessories have reportedly distorted the airbag system during crashes causing fatal injuries, said a city traffic police official. A sensor connected with the chassis generally collects data on collision impact and sends it to an electronic control unit which in turn inflates the airbag during collision. Crash guards prevent the signal flow during accidents, said a transport department official.
The state transport department has recently sent a circular to all the regional transport offices informing that these fittings are banned not only on vehicles to be registered but for existing ones plying the road. Violation can attract a penalty between Rs 250 and Rs 2,000 as per section 190 and 191 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1989.