Crash test for BNCAP

Enforcement & education are the key

The introduction of the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) norms by Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari moves the needle on passenger safety but will require more substantive enforcement to make a meaningful difference. For one, the norms, which will be effective from October 1, are voluntary. This flexibility could offer manufacturers a loophole to avoid subjecting their new launches to safety test norms. Global NCAP norms are compulsory in the US but voluntary in Europe, though customer demand has ensured that nearly 80 per cent of the cars undergo such tests before hitting the market.