Govt sets up panel for safety features in new vehicles

Government has constituted a panel for introducing certain safety features in new vehicles, and is taking steps towards harmonising safety norms for cars followed globally, Parliament was informed today.
"Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has formed a dedicated panel for introducing safety features in new vehicles under 'Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme' which will be voluntary from October 2017 and mandatory by October 2020," Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises G M Siddeshwara said.
He said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that the country is taking steps towards harmonisation of national regulation of safety standards for passenger cars with UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) regulations.

The minister further informed that under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, every manufacturer is required to submit the prototype of the vehicle for test by any of the agencies specified for granting a certificate to the compliance of the provisions of the Central Motor Vehicles Act 1988.
"All car companies are adhering to these standards in cars manufactured by them," he added.
Earlier, the ministry had said that it would soon come out with mandatory crash testing norms for passenger cars.