The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is preparing to roll out a safety rating system for trucks and commercial vehicles, modeled after the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP), which provides safety star ratings for passenger cars. “The aim is to motivate manufacturers to enhance build quality and make vehicles more secure,” said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during the opening of a two-day workshop on Vehicle and Fleet Safety, jointly hosted by the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP) and the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE).
He added that the government is also drafting safety benchmarks for battery-powered e-rickshaws, which currently face various safety challenges. Improving their safety standards could boost overall quality and help create additional job opportunities.
Highlighting India’s serious road safety concerns, Gadkari stated, “India records the highest number of road fatalities globally, with approximately 4.8 lakh crashes and 1.8 lakh deaths each year. Road safety, construction of safer highways, and promoting electric vehicles are key areas of focus.”
He also spoke about ongoing efforts to bring down logistics costs from the current 14-16% to around 9% in the next few years, recognizing the vital contribution of the automobile sector to India’s economic development. To improve working conditions for drivers, Gadkari mentioned that legislation is being considered to regulate truck drivers’ work hours, as many currently drive for up to 13-14 hours daily.
Plans are in place to establish 32 advanced training centers across the country. Additionally, air-conditioning for driver cabins is now compulsory, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are also mandated.
He further shared that road safety education will be introduced as a subject for students from grades 1 to 12 starting this academic year. A new road safety anthem sung by Shankar Mahadevan will be translated into 22 regional languages to raise awareness.
Dr Rohit Baluja, President of IRTE, said the two-day event aims to evaluate advancements in vehicle safety in India and globally since 2000, and identify key steps for further progress by 2030. The conference will also review how G20 countries, including India, are implementing global vehicle safety guidelines, with special sessions on fleet and motorcycle safety.
David Ward, President Emeritus of GNCAP, remarked, “Indian consumers now have access to safer vehicles thanks to the availability of safety ratings under programs like GNCAP and Bharat NCAP. This is an important step toward meeting the United Nations’ 2030 road safety goals.”
