Drive For Automotive Safety Gains Momentum

Innovations in the automotive industry are for fuel efficiency, environmental protection and safety of the occupants, road users and the vehicle.

- Ramya Srinivasan

While India is keeping pace with the world standards for the first two, for safety it is far behind. In 2016 over 5 lakh road accidents and 1.5 casualties were reported. In order to speed up the safety drive the government, the regulators and the industry are introducing new regulations, new products and programmes. Several projects are under way to ensure road safety in its multiple aspects.

From October 2017, airbags, vehicle reverse sensor, speed warning systems and seat belt reminder systems will be mandatory for all the high-end cars in India. The norms will be implemented in phases, according to the plans drawn up by the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP).

Critical safety features such as Airbags, ABS and Seat belt reminders will become modular in cars sold in India resulting from rankings and compulsory crash testing. Safety standards like the ‘ISO 26262’ specify the required safety. According to the Central Motor Vehicle Association (CMVR) the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) crash tests for new models will be mandatory from October 1, 2017. From October 2019, existing car models will have to undergo a crash test certification and will need cutting-edge technologies.

India is taking steps towards harmonisation of national regulations of safety module for passenger cars with UN- ECE regulations. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set up a panel for presenting safety features in new vehicles under the ‘Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme’.