ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 27th May. Click Here for more information.
Contents
Source: The post is based on articles:
“The dopiness Bharat NCAP cannot solve” published in Business Standard on 25th August 2023.
“Make India a global hub for vehicle crash testing” published in Live Mint on 25th August 2023.
Syllabus Topic: GS 2 – Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation
News: Recently, Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) has been introduced by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways.
What is Bharat NCAP?
It is the first such program to be administered by a national government, whereas others like Global NCAP are privately funded entities. It reduces testing by approximately one-fourth of Global NCAP’s expenses.
What safety measures have Indian car manufacturers been employing so far?
GNCAP’s crash results, safety features and its ratings are popular in India. Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai, use its 5-star ratings for marketing.
Maruti Suzuki hasn’t participated in GNCAP tests because as per the company, Indian vehicles already meet safety standards set by the Central Motor Vehicle Rules.
However, the company is enthusiastic about the BNCAP, and is providing three models for testing.
What is the significance of BNCAP rating and how is it different from GNCAP?
The difference between the two lies in cost, not quality.
BNCAP tests are almost the same as GNCAP’s, so cars rated highly internationally are likely to do well in local testing. Government labs conducting BNCAP tests with cost-effective resources will also cut expenses for car manufacturers.
The government’s approval for car safety could also attract consumers. If authorities push car makers to compete using BNCAP ratings, buyers might consider these ratings when buying cars.
This could encourage better performance and elevate safety standards across the industry.
Even a survey found that more than two-thirds of potential car buyers want BNCAP ratings, and most existing car owners would think about upgrading if their vehicles received poor ratings.
Read More: Bharat NCAP: India gets its own car crash testing programme
According to a World Bank report, India possesses 1% of global vehicles but accounts for 11% of road crash fatalities, costing 3% to 5% of GDP annually.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways indicates that 87% of car-related deaths result from occupants not using seatbelts.
Moreover, car safety is often linked with airbags, but the seatbelt is a more effective safety device. Airbags can be dangerous without a fastened seatbelt.
In two-wheeler accidents, 70% of fatalities involve riders without helmets. However, over speeding contributes to 69% of all fatalities.
What can be the way ahead?
First, the introduction of BNCAP is crucial, but improving road safety in India requires a comprehensive approach beyond car features. This includes awareness, road design, addressing accident-prone areas to safeguard all road users.
Second, car occupant fatalities declined from 18% (2016) to 13.6% (2020), while fatalities among vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists rose from 47% (2016) to 64% (2020). This emphasizes the necessity for broader safety measures for everyone.
Third, if BNCAP proves successful as an affordable and high-quality initiative, India could become a global hub for crash testing.
This shift would benefit India in terms of foreign earnings and may enhance the credibility of Indian crash tests worldwide.
Source: Business Standard
