Safer Cars in India | Consumer VOICE Initiative

Safer Cars in India is an initiative of Consumer VOICE as part of a global campaign for safer cars by Consumers International. Consumer VOICE organized 15 workshops in the months of June and July, 2017, across India to demand for safer cars for consumers in India. The pan-India campaign took place across 15 states from Jammu and Himachal Pradesh to Assam and Odisha which was aimed to reach out to over 5000 consumers.

CAMPAIGN FOCUS

When the world is making a shift to automated cars, Indian cars still lack in basic safety features like airbags, Antilock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ECS). In order to demand for safer cars in India, Consumer VOICE organized workshops across India with the following objectives:

•  To educate consumers on Car Safety aspects to create a demand of basic car safety features in all models introduced.
•  To create a platform where ‘Voices’ across states will emerge to put pressure on Government and manufacturers to incorporate safety features.
• To create awareness across states on the subject matter among masses through target audience, VCO’s and media.
• To put pressure on manufacturers to stick to timelines for introduction of safety features.

“As per Indian Government figures, approximately 146,133 people were killed in road accidents in 2015 alone – averaging an alarming 1,374 crashes per day. Apart from reckless driving, a crucial component to road safety is safer vehicles on our roads. The worrisome part is that, despite being the world’s 4th largest automobile market, almost 60% of the cars sold in India aren’t equipped with basic safety features such as airbags and ABS, which can protect lives of car occupants in a crash." He further elaborated on the issue of safer cars as 5 popular Indian cars received a zero-star rating in GNCAP results. Zero-rated cars being bought and sold in India is a cause of concern often overlooked.”

IMPACT

• Government officials from Traffic Police, and Road Safety joined the workshops and addressed the audience on various road safety aspects.
•  Experts from Road Safety, Automobile Sector came forward and joined the workshops to impart education to target audience about safer vehicles, need to have safety devices and demand for safer vehicles in India.
•  Pressure was created by efforts from workshops on manufacturers and Government.