Global NCAP and Automobile Association of South Africa (AA South Africa) on Wednesday conducted crash tests for assessing the safety worthiness of the cars plying in South Africa.
Global NCAP and Automobile Association of South Africa (AA South Africa) on Wednesday conducted crash tests for assessing the safety worthiness of the cars plying in South Africa. The crash worthiness results of the five cars tested show a wide range of safety performance, from four to zero stars for adult protection, with the lowest ratings resulting in a high probability of life threatening injury in a road crash.
The tested models included two India exported cars - Toyota Etios and Datsun Go+. While Etios scored four stars for adult safety and three for child safety in the back seat, Datsun GO+ got a one-star rating for adult protection and two stars for that of children in the back.
According to the Global NCAP, VW Polo Vivo, Renault Sandero and Chery QQ3 were the other vehicles that were tested for the safety parameters. Polo Vivo scored three stars for both adult and child safety.
Chery scored zero on both counts and was found to have unstable body shells.
Sandero was rated three stars for adult safety and four for children, making it the safest for children of the five cars.
Combined sales of these five cars accounted for around 65% of all the new cars sold in South Africa last year.
“The recent results of Global NCAP testing for Datsun GO+ were conducted for South Africa market. Datsun cars in India have been designed to meet the requisite safety standards set by Indian Regulatory Authorities. Safety of our customers is of paramount important to us and we are committed towards adopting as well as evolving standards in vehicular safety standards for the benefit of our customers.” said Nissan India spokesperson.
Global NCAP chose the entry-level version of each model one of them was not fitted with airbags. The results highlight differences in the structural integrity of the vehicles tested. Global NCAP, a UK based charity organisation, has in the past five years provided assistance to similar programmes in South America, India and the ASEAN region, resulting in safer cars.
David Ward, Secretary General of Global NCAP said: “It is good to see a four star result in these first ever African crash test ratings. However, it’s extremely disappointing that there’s a zero star car. Such a poor result shows why it is so important for countries like South Africa to fully apply the UN’s crash test standards.”
“Consumers need clear, comparative crash test information to help inform their car purchase decisions. This is why Global NCAP supports the introduction of mandatory crash test labelling for all new cars sold in South Africa.” Ward added.
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