Pune: Despite Ban, Crash Guards Continue to Pose Serious Safety Risks
Pune, 30th September 2025: Despite a nationwide ban, the use of crash guards and bull bars on vehicles remains rampant, posing serious risks to road users. Experts caution that these modifications compromise vehicle safety by obstructing airbags and transferring collision impact directly to passengers.
Crash guards not only endanger occupants but also increase the severity of injuries to pedestrians and cyclists in accidents. Road safety officials highlight that vehicles are scientifically engineered to absorb crash impact through their front sections, and such add-ons effectively negate that protection.
Deputy Regional Transport Officer Rahul Jadhav said, “The installation of crash guards and bull bars on vehicles is banned. Vehicles must not alter their original design. We will issue strict instructions to take action against such vehicles.”
Legal Provisions
Under motor vehicle laws, altering a vehicle’s original design is prohibited. Installing crash guards or bull bars is a punishable offense, carrying fines between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three years. Authorities also have the power to seize vehicles until the modifications are removed.
Enforcement Responsibility
Both the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and traffic police are authorized to penalize offenders. Typically, vehicle owners are given a short period to remove the illegal attachments before stricter legal measures are imposed.
Authorities have urged motorists to comply with the law and avoid such modifications, stressing that safety should take precedence over appearance or convenience.
