In a landmark move towards enhancing road safety and protecting millions of lives, the Indian government has announced the launch of the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP). This comprehensive initiative aims to elevate the safety standards of vehicles on Indian roads, aligning the nation with global best practices in vehicle safety.
Bharat NCAP comes as a response to the escalating concern over road accidents and fatalities across India. The program aspires to reduce road accidents by focusing on two crucial aspects: vehicle safety and consumer awareness. By encouraging the automotive industry to adopt advanced safety technologies and providing consumers with transparent safety ratings, the government hopes to mitigate the devastating impact of road accidents on Indian society.
Under Bharat NCAP, new vehicles entering the Indian market will have the option to undergo rigorous crash tests to evaluate their safety performance. These tests will assess factors such as adult and child occupant protection, pedestrian protection, and vehicle structural integrity. Vehicles will be assigned safety ratings based on their performance in these tests, making it easier for consumers to make informed decisions.
Three tests will be conducted as below:
-Frontal impact test
-Side impact test
-Side pole impact test
The front impact test will be against an offset deformable barrier at a speed of 64kph, which is the same as the Global NCAP protocol. All vehicles also need to meet the pedestrian protection norms and the pole impact test will only be carried out for cars securing 3 stars and above at a speed of 29kph.
Additionally for any car to carry a 3 or higher star rating, it must also have electronic stability control and front seat belt reminders fitted. Seat belt reminders are a good addition to the protocol, however, given their low cost and ease of implementation, this should have been included for all seats.
The program will incentivize automakers to equip their vehicles with essential safety features such as airbags, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), seatbelt reminders, and more. This move is expected to significantly improve the overall safety ecosystem of vehicles on Indian roads.
Bharat NCAP will not only focus on vehicle safety but also on creating awareness among consumers about the importance of safety features. The program aims to empower consumers with information that enables them to prioritize safety when purchasing a vehicle.
In a country where road safety has become a pressing concern, the Bharat NCAP has come as a hope, promising a safer future for all road users.