The government orders the immobilization of 800,000 additional vehicles

Many vehicles are now stopped. The Ministry of Transport announced, Tuesday, June 24, having ordered car manufacturers all brands to immobilize 800,000 additional vehicles in France equipped with Takata airbags, implicated in several accidents, bringing to 1.7 million the number of vehicles targeted by a ban on circulating for this reason. The cars concerned are all those equipped with airbags considered at risk in Corsica and overseas as well as the cars dating from before 2011 in the metropolitan territory outside Corsica.

At the same time, the ministry asked for the general recall of all cars equipped with an airbag at risk throughout France, or 600,000 more vehicles. Airbags at risk are as well as those who have caused accidents, with ammonium nitrate without drying.

“This decision aims to send a clear and firm message to manufacturers, while encouraging owners of vehicles concerned to have their vehicle checked as soon as possible”insisted the Ministry of Transport in its press release. This follows the accident on June 11 in Reims in which a 36 -year -old woman was killed by the explosion of her airbag. The rear passenger, 13 years old, was also slightly injured.

It is the second fatal accident in mainland France linked to these airbags which caused a total of 18 dead and 25 injured (including 16 deaths and 24 injured in the overseas), according to the Ministry of Transport. Since 2014, the industrial scandal of these airbags, which have caused a series of deaths, has been shaking the automotive sector worldwide. Because of a badly aging gas, this safety equipment supposed to protect passengers in the event of a shock, can explode, especially in hot and humid climates, projecting parts of the drivers.