The Global NCAP World Congress kick-started yesterday with demonstrations of vehicle safety for ‘Stop the Crash’ initiative at the Buddh International Circuit. Global NCAP is conducting the four day event in partnership with Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE). One of the highlights of the events was the announcement made by the joint secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) that all cars manufactured in the country from next month onwards will have to be equipped with pedestrian safety features where the bonnet of the car will be designed to reduce impact on pedestrians in case of an accident. Safety features like ABS, ESC and autonomous emergency braking were demonstrated with cars and motorcycles on a closed track.
At the launch of the initiative, Abhay Damle, joint secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said, “India does not have Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP) but we are implementing all safety features in our vehicles with active support of vehicle manufacturers. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) will be incorporated in new vehicles by 2023. ABS and automatic headlights for two wheeler s has already been mandated. By the year 2022 most of our vehicle safety will be at par with global standards and some safety features may surpass United States safety standards even. But real challenge is bringing in maximum safety at affordable cost so that cost of vehicles does not go up steeply.”
David Ward, secretary general of Global NCAP and chairman of Stop the Crash partnership, said, “GNCAP, an independent charity focused on international consumer-orientated vehicle safety initiatives is hosting its first ever World Congress in India to provide a unique opportunity to assess the contribution that safer vehicles can make to the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety and the Sustainable Development Goals. The ‘Stop The Crash’ program will also encourage the adoption of autonomous braking systems, a technology that is known to greatly reduce the risk to both the car in question and other vehicles or vulnerable road users around it in case of a detected crash/obstacle. Global NCAP strongly supports the Indian Government’s mandating Anti-Lock Brakes and automatic headlights for motorcycles. New two wheelers sold in India greatly outnumber the number of cars sold in the country and safer two wheelers can greatly reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on Indian roads.”
The Global NCAP World Congress puts the focus on road safety and importance of NCAPs to improve on the safety features in cars and motorcycles. The main objective is to create awareness of the same and reduce road fatalities in India.