Global NCAP 2018: Is India On The Right Path To Car Safety?

The Global NCAP World Congress is being held in India this year and the crash test body has partnered with IRTE to launch the ‘Stop the Crash’ campaign. The main idea behind this campaign is to make cars safer in India. At the launch event, the two bodies organised demonstrations on how active safety systems like ESC (Electronic Stability Control), AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) for motorcycles help prevent accidents and mishaps.

David Ward, the secretary general of Global NCAP, made a shocking revelation when he said that about 20 per cent of all new vehicles produced in the world are sub-standard. In the rating system of NCAP, they get zero stars. The main reason for the abysmal rating is the absence of ABS.

In India, however, ABS and dual airbags are already offered as standard on most cars which helps put India in the yellow zone. It signifies that essential safety systems are offered as standard. Contrary to popular belief among Indian consumers, the weight of the vehicle does not contribute to safety. If anything, a heavier car will carry more interia resulting in higher probability of damage.

He also stated that by 2020 all new cars should have ABS, ESC and autonomous emergency braking all over the world. India is making good progress in this respect especially with ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) set to become mandatory in India by 2023. Currently, though, the ESC fitment percentage in India stands at just 7 per cent. We hope that changes rapidly in the coming years. For reference, China aims to equip 70 per cent of its vehicles with ESC by 2021

The Secretary General also announced the target for 2030 which requires all new cars to meet the quality standards of the UN. This includes quality standards for front and side impact, child restraint and anchorage, ESC, seatbelt and pedestrian safety.

The first offset front impact test was mandated by the UN in 1998. Despite resistance from the automotive industry, the crash test was made mandatory. It is one of the key tests in determining the safety rating of the car, as debris and vehicle flex are major causes of serious occupant injury. This crash test norm has been adopted by India as well. According to Neeti Sarkar, CEO & PD, National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP), such crash testing facilities are available in India.

According to David Ward, if India proceeds on the current path of mandating active safety systems such as ESC and AEB along with the already mandatory ABS and dual airbags, we will be at par with most developed countries (Green Zone) in the world when it comes to occupant safety.