Demystifying Bharat NCAP: Your roadmap to safer car selection
In a bid to enhance road safety, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in India has introduced a game-changing initiative – the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP). This program is all about evaluating the safety performance of passenger vehicles designed to carry up to eight passengers and not exceed a weight limit of 3.5 tonnes.
The overarching goal is to harmonize India's safety standards with those of countries like the US, Europe, Japan, Australia, and Latin America, all of which have their own NCAPs. The evaluation process involves comprehensive crash tests and assessments, culminating in the allocation of star ratings to vehicles, with the coveted five stars representing the highest level of safety.
Why does the Bharat NCAP rating matter?
The Bharat NCAP is a dynamic platform that empowers consumers as primary decision-makers.
It equips potential car buyers with the tools to make well-informed choices by taking into account the star ratings assigned to different vehicles. Beyond this, the initiative fuels a healthy competitive spirit among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India, encouraging them to produce vehicles that meet elevated safety standards.
On a global scale, road traffic accidents are a leading cause of fatalities, especially among individuals aged 15 to 49. Annually, approximately 1.3 million lives are lost due to such accidents.
This program squarely addresses this concern, given that over 90% of these fatalities take place in low- and middle-income countries. India contributes significantly to this grim statistic, accounting for around 11% of the world's road traffic deaths.
How are vehicle safety ratings determined?
Vehicle safety ratings are the outcome of a meticulous
