By Mohit Kumar
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Bharat NCAP, this voluntary program assesses vehicles for crash safety, awards star ratings, and aims to revolutionize road safety in India.
What is Bharat NCAP and why is it important for car buyers in India?
Unveiling a Safer Road Ahead
The Indian government's proactive stance towards road safety took a giant leap with the inception of Bharat NCAP, the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme. This pioneering initiative seeks to revolutionize the safety landscape of automobiles sold within the nation's borders.
Set to be inaugurated on August 22, 2023, by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, Bharat NCAP aims to bolster crash safety standards and elevate consumer awareness.
A Voluntary Leap Towards Safety
Bharat NCAP operates as a voluntary program that empowers car manufacturers to subject their vehicles to rigorous crash safety assessments. These evaluations adhere to the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197, an established benchmark for gauging vehicle safety. Under the program's purview are passenger vehicles with seating capacities of up to eight and a weight not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
This inclusive approach embraces diverse propulsion technologies, encompassing internal combustion engines (ICE), compressed natural gas (CNG), and electric vehicles (EVs).
Under the Safety Microscope
The heart of Bharat NCAP lies in the comprehensive battery of tests that participating vehicles will undergo. Frontal offset impact, side impact, pedestrian protection, and child restraint system evaluations form the cornerstone of these assessments.
By meticulously dissecting a vehicle's performance in safeguarding adult and child occupants during collisions, Bharat NCAP strives to foster an ecosystem of safety-conscious design and engineering.
The Star-Rated Verdict
The culmination of these assessments results in a critical outcome: the coveted star ratings. Divided into categories of adult occupant protection (AOP) and child occupant protection (COP), these ratings reflect the vehicle's effectiveness in mitigating crash-induced risks. Spanning a scale from zero to five stars, with five stars epitomizing the zenith of safety, these ratings empower consumers with a clear visual indicator of a vehicle's protective prowess.
Pioneering Advantages
Bharat NCAP's benefits extend to various echelons of the automotive realm. For consumers, this initiative equips them with a powerful tool to discern and compare the safety attributes of diverse vehicles available in the market. This informed decision-making process is poised to catalyze a demand-driven shift towards safer automobiles.
Catalyzing Industry Transformation
The onus on vehicle manufacturers amplifies, with Bharat NCAP acting as a driving force towards the adoption of elevated safety standards. Meeting consumer expectations for robust safety features becomes paramount, thus rendering the industry more competitive and export-oriented.
Safer Horizon Beckons
Bharat NCAP's overarching impact on road safety extends beyond individual choices. With India grappling with alarmingly high road accident rates, the program aligns seamlessly with the government's ambitious goal of reducing road accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030.
Collective Responsibility
As Bharat NCAP takes centre stage, a collective responsibility emerges. As consumers, advocating for safer vehicles becomes imperative. Manufacturers are poised to embrace the challenge, nurturing a culture of vehicular safety. As road users, strict adherence to traffic regulations and responsible driving form the bedrock of safer roads.
Transformative Drive Forward
Bharat NCAP is a commendable stride towards cultivating a safety-conscious mindset within India's automotive landscape. With unwavering support from all stakeholders, from consumers to manufacturers and road users, we embark on a journey to redefine safety on our roads.
Also Read: World's First Car Crash Test
Car crash test safety programs are essential initiatives dedicated to evaluating and enhancing the safety features of vehicles, ultimately aiming to reduce the severity of injuries sustained in car accidents.
These programs involve rigorous testing methodologies, data analysis, and collaboration among various stakeholders to ensure that vehicles on the road provide optimal protection for occupants and pedestrians.
Several prominent organizations worldwide are involved in these programs, conducting research and publishing safety ratings to guide consumers and manufacturers in making safer vehicle choices.
Here are some notable organizations:
1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Based in the United States, the NHTSA is a federal agency responsible for regulating vehicle safety standards and enforcing safety-related laws. The agency conducts crash tests using its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) to evaluate the performance of vehicles in frontal, side, and rollover crash scenarios. NHTSA's safety ratings provide consumers with valuable information on vehicle safety.
2. European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP):
Euro NCAP is a European organization that conducts crash tests on vehicles to assess their safety performance. Established in 1997, Euro NCAP evaluates various aspects of vehicle safety, including adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, pedestrian protection, and safety assist features. The organization's safety ratings have contributed to significant improvements in vehicle safety across Europe.
3. Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP):
ANCAP is the Australasian counterpart of Euro NCAP, dedicated to evaluating the safety of vehicles available in Australia and New Zealand. ANCAP's assessments cover similar categories, including occupant protection, pedestrian protection, and safety assist technologies.
4. Japan New Car Assessment Program (JNCAP):
JNCAP is Japan's vehicle safety assessment program. Similar to its international counterparts, JNCAP conducts crash tests and evaluates vehicle safety features, contributing to the improvement of vehicle safety standards in Japan.
5. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS):
The IIHS is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization funded by insurance companies. It conducts extensive research into vehicle safety and performs crash tests, including small overlap front crash tests that focus on challenging frontal impacts. The IIHS also evaluates the effectiveness of vehicle safety technologies and provides safety ratings to guide consumers and manufacturers.
6. Latin NCAP:
Latin NCAP is an independent assessment program focused on evaluating the safety of vehicles available in Latin America and the Caribbean. It conducts crash tests and provides safety ratings for various vehicle models to promote safer choices in the region.
These organizations play a crucial role in driving improvements in vehicle safety. Their testing procedures involve using advanced crash test dummies, sensors, and data analysis techniques to measure the potential impact on occupants and pedestrians.
The resulting safety ratings help consumers make informed decisions when purchasing vehicles and encourage manufacturers to prioritize safety features during vehicle design and production.
Over the years, these organizations have contributed significantly to reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries resulting from car accidents by incentivizing the automotive industry to implement innovative safety technologies and design features.
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