India to Launch NCAP Test Following Criticisms Over Vehicle Safety

The Indian government is to launch a New Car Assessment Program as the global car safety body says Indian consumers don’t know just how unsafe their vehicles are now.

India is the world’s fifth-largest producer of passenger vehicles and the Global NCAP organization says new independent crash tests show why the country should use internationally accepted safety standards.

“Crash tests of Nissan’s Datsun Go and Maruti Suzuki’s Swift demonstrate a high risk of life-threatening injuries with both cars receiving a zero-star safety rating for their adult occupant protection,” Global NCAP says in a statement.

The Datsun Go’s vehicle structure collapsed in the crash and was rated unstable. The car’s lack of airbags meant the driver’s head makes direct contact with the steering wheel and dashboard – the dummy readings indicate a high probability of life-threatening injuries.

However the failure of the body shell makes it redundant to fit an airbag.

The Swift’s vehicle structure showed signs of collapsing in the crash and was rated unstable. The car’s lack of standard-fit airbags meant the driver’s head makes direct contact with the steering wheel and the dummy readings indicate a high probability of life-threatening injuries. Unlike the Go, fitting airbags would improve occupant protection, Global NCAP says.

In January, Global NCAP published crash-test results for five of India’s best-known cars – the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, Hyundai i10, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo and Tata Nano. All received zero-star adult-protection ratings. Volkswagen since has decided to offer the Polo for sale in India with two airbags as standard and received a 4-star safety rating.

“These new results reaffirm the organization’s belief that the establishment of an independent Indian NCAP, independent of manufacturers and run by motoring clubs, insurance organizations and government, is clearly needed,” Global NCAP says.

It says the move to an Indian NCAP should be accompanied by action to apply the United Nations’ minimum crash-test standards.

“These risks would be significantly reduced if the cars had to comply with the UN test regulation for frontal and side impact,” it says.

Global NCAP Chairman Max Mosley says India has the potential to be a world leader in the auto industry, but Indian consumers are not aware of how unsafe they would be in the case of a crash.

“That is why we are pleased that India is launching an NCAP consumer testing program,” Mosley says. “This would be a step forward for safety but regulations based on the UN’s minimum crash test standards are also needed. If this happens every new car sold in India would have a proper crash structure and airbags.”

Global NCAP Secretary General David Ward also says creation of an Indian NCAP needs to be combined with the application of the UN regulations for frontal and side impact.

“Prompt action like this would prevent the introduction of brand-new models like the Datsun Go, which has a body structure so weak that it is pointless to fit an airbag,” Ward says.

“It is disappointing to see a global company like Nissan launch a new-car design in 2014 that so clearly falls below UN safety standards. This runs counter to the objectives of the UN Decade of Action.”

Institute of Road Traffic Education President Rohit Baluja concedes consumers are not yet aware of the safety aspects of the vehicle they purchase.

“The consumer believes that the automobiles they are purchasing meet the best safety standards,” he says. “While deciding to purchase the vehicle the consumer does not yet consider safety as a deciding parameter. This awareness needs to be created.

“It must be the responsibility of both the vehicle manufacturer and seller to provide this information to the consumer and make this aspect the basis of marketing.”

Baluja says India is far behind the rest of the world in framing a regulatory safety structure and must complete both the regulatory and NCAP consumer information process no later than 2016.

About 1.2 million Indians were killed in car accidents over the past decade, with another 5.5 million seriously injured, Reuters reports.

New legislation to be introduced this month in a Parliament session would stiffen fines and prison sentences for dangerous driving. Those caught speeding or drinking and driving would face fines of $800, equivalent to 10 times the average monthly salary in India. Current fines are $16 for speeding and $50 for drunk driving.