The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP).
The program involves an indigenous star-rating system for crash testing cars, assessing their safety in collisions.
The rating system will be voluntary and effective from October 1, 2023.
Features and Scope of Bharat NCAP:
Under Bharat NCAP, nominated cars will be crash-tested following protocols defined in Automotive Industry Standard 197.
The program covers passenger vehicles with up to eight seats, with a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kg.
Ratings will be assigned based on three parameters: adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, and safety assist technologies.
Different tests, including frontal offset, side impact, and pole-side impact tests, will evaluate the parameters.
Voluntary Participation and Exceptional Cases:
While the program is voluntary, certain circumstances may necessitate crash testing, such as popular base models or recommendations for public safety.
Around 30 car models have been offered by manufacturers for crash testing under Bharat NCAP.
Objectives and Significance:
The primary objective is to empower consumers to make informed decisions when buying cars, promoting the demand for safer vehicles.
India records approximately 1.5 lakh road fatalities annually, contributing to 10% of global road crash deaths with only 1% of the world's vehicles.
Road crashes cost the Indian economy 5 to 7% of GDP annually, according to a World Bank study.
Global Influence and Evolution of Bharat NCAP:
Bharat NCAP's testing protocols are influenced by the Global NCAP, a project by the UK-based NGO, Towards Zero Foundation.
The Global NCAP initiated a Safer Cars for India campaign in 2014, conducting India's first independent crash tests on various models.
Over 50 results have been published for the Indian market since then, leading to improvements in vehicle safety.
Recent road safety regulations in India include mandatory dual front airbags, anti-lock braking system, seatbelt reminders, and reverse parking sensors.
Future Challenges and Progress:
Developing crash testing capabilities and expertise is necessary for effective implementation.
India needs to align Bharat NCAP with global standards by expanding testing parameters and improving vehicle safety measures.
Other countries' NCAPs include additional tests like roll-over, electric shock protection, and passenger protection evaluations.
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