The Hindu Editorial (Sleeping deathtraps) – Oct 25, 2025

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The Hindu Editorial (Sleeping deathtraps) – Oct 25, 2025:

trap (noun) – unescapable & very bad situation.
deathtrap (noun) – a structure (building/vehicle), place, or situation that is very dangerous and could cause death.
vulnerable (adjective) – weak, unsafe, endangered, unshielded.
mirror (verb) – reflect, repeat, match, reproduce, imitate.
apparently (adverb) – seemingly, outwardly, allegedly, supposedly, ostensibly, at first glance.
trigger (verb) – cause, bring about, lead to, give rise to, prompt, spark off.
collide (verb) – conflict, be in opposition, clash.
hit-and-run (adjective) – relating to a road accident in which the driver who caused it drives away without stopping or giving help.
claim (verb) – (of a disaster, accident, disease, etc.) to take someone’s life; to cause someone’s death.
barely (adverb) – hardly; only just; almost not.
catch fire (phrase) – to begin to burn; to start burning.
eerily (adverb) – peculiarly, oddly, in a strange and frightening way.
well-known (adjective) – famous; familiar to many people.
chassis (noun) – the base frame of a vehicle on which the body and other parts are built.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) (noun) – a company that makes parts or equipment used in another company’s end product.
case (noun) – an instance, example, or situation; a particular occurrence.
increasingly (adverb) – more and more, steadily more, continuously more, gradually more.
rigorous (adjective) – strict, stern, severe, harsh, stringent.
Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) (noun) – Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) are a set of technical specifications and regulations for the automotive sector in India. These standards are based on the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989, and align with global best practices. The primary purpose of AIS is to improve road safety and ensure the quality, performance, and environmental compliance of vehicles and their components sold in the Indian market.
lay down (phrasal verb) – formulate, stipulate, set down, frame, draw up.
seldom (adverb) – hardly, rarely, almost never.
composite material (noun) – a combination of two materials with different physical and chemical properties.
inflammable (adjective) – flammable, burnable, combustible.
hardly (adverb) – barely, only just, narrowly, slightly / almost not.
crash testing (noun) – a form of destructive testing that evaluates a vehicle’s ability to protect its occupants and other road users in a collision. These tests are conducted under controlled, scientific conditions and are crucial for improving vehicle safety standards and validating designs before they are sold to consumers.
on board (phrase) – in a vehicle.
barricade (noun) – barrier, blockade.
regulation (noun) – rule, ruling, order, directive.
fleet (noun) – a number of vehicles/flights/ships working together (under a single ownership).
enhance (verb) – increase, intensify, strengthen, heighten, boost, upgrade, augment
mandate (verb) – make mandatory/necessary; require.
collision (noun) – crash, accident, clash / conflict, clash.
current (adjective) – present, existing.
audible (adjective) – able to be heard, hearable, clear, loud.
comprehensive (adjective) – all-inclusive, broad-based; all-embracing, complete, thorough.
take into account (phrase) – consider, respect, take account of / take into consideration.
implementation (noun) – execution, application, carrying out / enforcement, imposition.