Global NCAP Slashes on Safety of Indian Cars

BENGALURU: A 42 Lakh kilometer long Indian road witnessed about 137,423 deaths in 2015, and for this year the reckoning is still going on. India is considered to have dangerous roads when compared with the other countries across earth. So now, it becomes necessary to ask that, “If the roads are dangerous, will my car provide protection for me and my family during an accident?” Global New Car Assessment Programme (or Global NCAP) comes with an answer to the question by crash testing five of the most selling cars in the Indian automotive market, with testing frontal collision at 64 kilometers per hour.

Global NCAP selected Renault’s Kwid, Hyundai motor’s Eon, Maruti Suzuki’s Celerio and Eeco, and Mahindra and Mahindra’s SUV Scorpio. The result of the crash test performed showed that all of these cars have low levels of adult occupant safety.

David Ward, Secretary General, Global NCAP commended Renault for its latest improvement done in Kwid by providing front air bags which was not given during the initial release. The Kwid got zero stars for adult occupant protection but got two stars for child occupant protection. The testing was carried on three models out of which two were without airbags; and so, these models scored the same ratings.

The SUV model of Mahindra also scored zero stars for adult occupant protection and scored two stars for child occupant protection. The non-airbag Eeco scored zero stars in adult occupant protection and scored one star in the child occupant protection; also this model does not offer optional airbags.  Celerio’s score was similar to that of Eeco which belongs to Maruti Suzuki. Whereas, Hyundai Eon scored zero star in the adult occupant protection but scored two stars in the child occupant protection.

Disappointed with the results, Ward states that the real intention behind the Global NCAP is to ensure no manufacturer brings out a new car on roads which is below standards. Any new car should make its way through UN’s crash test regulations and use airbag. Speaking during the Indian Automobile Safety Conference, Ward says that manufacturers need not wait for legislation and all the zero star rated cars should be eliminated from production.    

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