The Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) has highlighted the road safety and environmental concerns associated with the automobile industry’s emphasis on selling larger and heavier SUVs. Global NCAP‘s executive president, David Ward, urged the government to discourage the sale of these vehicles, emphasizing the increased risk they pose to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, as well as vulnerable road users.He noted that the growth and demand forSUVs in India and other countries present significant challenges in terms of road safety and the environment.
Ward pointed out that the trend of cars becoming heavier, taller, and more powerful contributes to the risk of fatal injuries, particularly for vulnerable road users. The height of a vehicle’s bonnet is a crucial factor, as a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car with a higher bonnet faces a 30% greater risk of fatal injury compared to a vehicle with a lower bonnet.
The executive president highlighted that large SUVs increase the risk of serious injury to other road users by approximately a third more than medium-sized SUVs. In this context, he urged governments to actively discourage the sale of oversized vehicles. Ward acknowledged the steps taken by the Indian government, such as the development of Bharat NCAP in partnership with GNCAP, for enhancing road safety but emphasized the need to address the challenges posed by the growing popularity of larger SUVs.
Do you agree with the views of GNCAP’s Dawid Ward? Let us know your views in the comments down below.
Ward pointed out that the trend of cars becoming heavier, taller, and more powerful contributes to the risk of fatal injuries, particularly for vulnerable road users. The height of a vehicle’s bonnet is a crucial factor, as a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car with a higher bonnet faces a 30% greater risk of fatal injury compared to a vehicle with a lower bonnet.
The executive president highlighted that large SUVs increase the risk of serious injury to other road users by approximately a third more than medium-sized SUVs. In this context, he urged governments to actively discourage the sale of oversized vehicles. Ward acknowledged the steps taken by the Indian government, such as the development of Bharat NCAP in partnership with GNCAP, for enhancing road safety but emphasized the need to address the challenges posed by the growing popularity of larger SUVs.
Do you agree with the views of GNCAP’s Dawid Ward? Let us know your views in the comments down below.