Car tests made mandatory

With popular models from major auto makers failing crash tests, the Indian road ministry has made basic side and frontal crash tests mandatory for all new models by 2017, and for the existing ones by 2019, to decide the ‘crashworthiness’ and level of safety an automobile can offer.

Moreover, the tests will no longer have to be taken outside the country as two car crash facilities are being set up at home. To pass these tests, the cars will need to have airbags and other safety features such as child restraint systems and anti-lock braking systems.

In anticipation of this decision by the government, car makers like Ford, Maruti, have already begun to beef up safety features with pressure from the New Car Assessment Programme urging carmakers to adopt United Nations safety standards for front and side impact till government’s new occupant protection regulations comes to force under Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme (BNVSAP).