Bharat NCAP 2.0: How it could impact vehicle and pedestrian safety, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has released a revised draft of the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP).
• The initial Bharat NCAP, implemented in October 2023, is valid until September 30, 2027.
• The updated draft broadens safety assessments, introduces mandatory tests, updates test parameters, and revises the scoring structure, including Vulnerable Road User Protection.
• The new draft proposes testing vehicles based on features protecting vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, who account for over 20% of road accident fatalities.

Detailed Insights:

• Bharat NCAP assigns safety ratings to vehicles based on crash testing, with top performers receiving a 5-star rating, helping manufacturers showcase safety features.
• While existing safety standards ensure basic roadworthiness, Bharat NCAP uniquely focuses on crashworthiness, going beyond minimum requirements.
• The program is voluntary and aims to provide India-specific safety certificates, promoting technological advancements in vehicle safety.
• Bharat NCAP 2.0 expands assessment to five areas: Safe Driving (10%), Accident Avoidance (10%), Crash Protection (55%), Vulnerable Road User Protection (20%), and Post-Crash Safety (5%).
• The number of mandatory crash tests under Crash Protection has increased from three to five, including frontal, lateral, oblique side, full-width frontal, and rear impact tests.
• The 2025 draft introduces new assessment areas, including Vulnerable Road User Protection, with a 20% weightage.
• The weightage for 4-star and 5-star ratings has increased to 65 and 80 points, respectively, from 60 and 70 points in 2023.
• Achieving 3-star and above ratings in Bharat NCAP 2.0 requires an Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) score of at least 45% of the total Crash Protection Vertical score.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Bharat NCAP: A program that provides safety ratings for vehicles based on crash testing and evaluation criteria.
• Crashworthiness: The ability of a vehicle to protect its occupants during a crash.
• Vulnerable Road User: Road users who are at a greater risk of injury in the event of a collision, such as pedestrians.