GNCAP urges corporates and fleet owners to prioritise five-star rated Vehicles
Global New Car Assessment Programme
(
GNCAP
) has updated its FleetSafe guide, recommending that corporates and fleet owners select vehicles based on NCAP
five-star safety ratings
and UN safety standards for passenger cars.
David Ward, President Emeritus of GNCAP, stated that, 'Work-related crashes cause a third of global road deaths, making driving one of the biggest risks for employees. To assist fleet managers in making safer vehicle purchasing decisions, Global NCAP has revised and further developed our FleetSafe guide. It reflects the latest thinking and recommendations on vehicle selection."
"Improved fleet selection and purchasing can contribute greatly to ensuring safer vehicles enter the fleet, safeguarding the health and well-being of employees and contribute to saving lives globally,' he added.
'Using Global NCAP's guidelines and adopting a five star commitment will be the best way for fleet managers to meet their duty of care for employees, reduce the costs of road crashes, and demonstrate real commitment towards Corporate Social Responsibility. How vehicle fleets are driven, maintained, and purchased is an important contributor to improved
road safety
,' Ward further added.
Call for enhanced two-wheeler safety
Ward also drew attention to the safety of two-wheelers, noting that over 1.1 billion two-wheelers are sold globally and that multiple safety measures are needed to improve their safety.
'Two-wheelers should have ABS, blind spot detection systems and more to make them safer. With two-wheelers accounting for 44% of road fatalities in India, improving their safety is a major priority. These priorities include
anti-lock brakes
, standards for helmets, enforcement and road design,' he said.
Speaking at a conference on 'Vehicle and
Fleet Safety
' organised by the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), Ward further stated:'For further safety of two-wheeler riders, GNCAP recommends anti-lock brakes (ABS) for all bikes capable of plus 50kmh. India is world leader on ABS standard but it has mandated ABS above 125cc but could go further.'
'Since ABS has been a successful intervention to reduce the risk of road crashes and fatalities involving two-wheelers, this should be a feature in all motorised two-wheelers above 50cc. Safe technological systems, including ABS for all two-wheelers, cannot be ignored.'
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