IT is not something that we should be proud of. Unfortunately, though, statistics don’t lie and the fact is India is the topper in road fatalities and number three in terms of injuries. All this when we command just one per cent of the globe’s vehicles. In terms of numbers, road accidents are close to 500,000 annually with over 1,60,000 deaths.
Almost seventy per cent of those who lose their life in these accidents are below fifty, in the age group of 18-48. Systematically the government has been attempting to create a matrix to bring down these numbers—better roads, speed limits, speed limit controllers in cars and increasing focus on educating the driving public. The problem, though, is that better the cars and faster the pickup, the greater the propensity to push the pedal and catch some wind as drivers often exclaim. Sadly, unless you are a high-quality professional pushing the pedal in the circuit, this desire to test the limits has given us this undesirable world number one status.
Crash tests
This is where the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) which kicked off from October 1 comes in. Cars will now be rated based on how they perform in a series of crash tests.
Under BNCAP, three key elements– adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, and the availability of safetyassist technologies—in the vehicle will determine the rating. “Bharat NCAP will prove to be a critical instrument in making our automotive industry Atmanirbhar with the mission of making India the no. 1 automobile hub in the world,” said Nitin Gadkari. He was addressing the 63rd annual convention of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) on September 13.
MoU signed
Modelled almost along the lines of the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP), which has been crafted by the UK-based charity Towards Zero Foundation whose prime motivation is to promote more and more countries adopting the benchmark vehicle safety standards set by the United Nations. David Ward, executive president at GNCAP, was quoted by the Economic Times: “We don’t want to be seen as a rival programme to Bharat NCAP. It’d be very confusing to the consumer, and it doesn’t serve anybody’s interests.” While the G in the GNCAP will be replaced by the B, the collaboration will continue at another level. It has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Institute for Road Transport (CIRT) which will spearhead the codifying of the Indian standards as well as the testing of cars while continuing to offer its expertise to CIRT and the Bharat NCAP when it is set up.
For BNCAP companies can voluntarily offer their vehicles for testing. Based on the test performance, the vehicles will be awarded star ratings for adult and child occupants.
So how will the BNCAP work? Here are a few pointers
It will apply to the category of passenger cars having a gross weight of up to 3,500 kg, carrying up to eight passengers in addition to the driver.
Vehicles will get star ratings for Adult Occupants (AOP) and Child Occupants (COP) based on their performance in the tests. Star ratings are based on the extent a car may suffer damage in the event of an accident.
The program will test both indigenously manufactured as well as imported cars.
In addition to combustion engine cars, the Bharat NCAP will also crash test electric as well as CNG cars.
Selection of cars can happen under the following criteria
Based on the recommendation of the MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) based on feedback and confidential inputs Voluntary submission for assessment by OEM
Car with sales of at least 30,000 units since its introduction in the last 12 months.
Of course, the prime motivation for these standards is to reduce fatalities and injuries in accidents. Another important factor is that India having its very own crash-testing program will substantially reduce by over 65 per cent the cost of crash-testing vehicles.
Without a doubt the programme—to be rated with stars from one to five– will encourage people to look for safer cars. It will help the country’s automobile sector compete globally while forcing manufacturers to quickly move to six airbags or else get dumped. The irony is that October 1 was also the deadline for the six-airbag rule that has now been scrapped. Only because one manufacturer, allegedly Maruti, was reluctant. Imagine the country’s number one auto car company is reluctant to give you four extra bags. What will they do when BNCAP marks them out?
