Road Safety: Beyond the Star Rating

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I was discussing among my friends so just gave a thought of writing it for others too . 
Its a  discussion highlight the complexities of road safety, moving beyond the prevalent focus on star ratings in car crash tests. While acknowledging the importance of structural integrity, the experts emphasize that holistic road safety encompasses a much wider range of factors, including driver behavior, road engineering, and active safety technologies.

Startling Road Accident Statistics

  • In 2023, India recorded 1.72 lakh road fatalities.
  • In 2022, there were 1.68 lakh deaths, translating to approximately 1,263 road crashes and 461 deaths every day.
  • The Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, laments the persistent issue of road safety, acknowledging it as a "black spot."
  • Driver error is often blamed, but road engineering is identified as a major culprit.
  • Road fatalities are increasing as roads improve, leading to more speeding and more vulnerable road users.
  • 44% of fatalities are two-wheeler riders, 20% are pedestrians, and 12% are car occupants.
  • 71% of fatalities are due to speeding.
  • Driving on the wrong side of the road caused 9,000 deaths, significantly more than jumping red lights (1,400 deaths).

The Limitations of Star Ratings (Passive Safety)

We   argued that while star ratings are important for marketing and awareness, they are not the "be-all and end-all" of safety.

  • Marketing Symbol: Star ratings have become a badge of honor and a marketing tool for manufacturers.
  • Volunteer Testing: Brands pay to have their cars tested, often sending models they know will perform well, leading to questions about the true representation of safety across a manufacturer's lineup.
  • Incomplete Picture: Crash tests (and thus star ratings) do not cover many real-world accident scenarios, such as:
    • Truck underrides: Responsible for a high proportion of fatalities in frontal impacts.
    • Rollovers: Especially relevant for SUVs with high centers of gravity.
    • Rear impacts.
    • Rear passenger safety: Seatbelt reminders only became prominent after a high-profile accident.
  • UN Protocols (AIS-98): We emphasize that these protocols, implemented in 2017 for new cars and 2019 for old cars, eliminated "genuine death traps" (e.g., Maruti Omni, Tata Nano), establishing a basic level of safety for all cars on the road. A three-star car, therefore, is not necessarily a "deathtrap" compared to older, truly unsafe vehicles.
  • External Factors: Star ratings can be penalized for minor equipment omissions (e.g., ISOFIX mounts) that don't directly impact structural integrity.
  • Weight vs. Stars: A heavier three-star SUV might be safer than a lighter four-star hatchback due to physics.
  • Manufacturer Focus: Some manufacturers (like Tata Motors and Mahindra) are accused of building cars specifically to achieve five-star ratings without holistically addressing other safety aspects (e.g., blind spots, braking systems).
  • Maruti's Evolution: Maruti's recent five-star rating for the Dzire demonstrates that achieving high safety standards is a matter of will, not just capability.

The Importance of Active Safety

We strongly advocate for active safety measures that help avoid accidents in the first place, rather than solely focusing on how a car performs during a crash.

  • Avoiding Accidents: "The best accident is one that doesn't happen at all."
  • ADAS Features: While acknowledging their current imperfections in Indian conditions (e.g., aggressiveness in city driving), ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) are seen as "absolute lifesavers" on highways, especially in mitigating driver distraction and fatigue.
  • Reaction Time: Active safety features become crucial as cars get faster and drivers become more distracted, reducing reaction time.

Driver Responsibility and Defensive Driving

The most critical element of road safety, according to us, It is the driver and their mindset.

  • Defensive Driving: Keeping a dynamic "safety envelope" around the vehicle and understanding when it shrinks.
  • Experience: Building a "library of events" in one's head through experience helps anticipate potential dangers.
  • Speed Management: While speed is a major culprit in fatalities, its safety is relative to the road conditions. However, exceeding safe speeds reduces reaction time and avoidance capabilities.
  • Licensing Procedures: The current licensing process in India is criticized as lax, putting untrained drivers on the road.
  • Distraction: Driver distraction (touchscreens, phones) significantly increases accident risk.
  • Fatigue (Highway Hypnosis): Long, monotonous drives can lead to highway hypnosis. Solutions include:
    • ADAS features.
    • Frequent breaks and rest.
    • Varying vision (not fixing gaze on the horizon).
    • Stopping and resting when feeling sleepy.

Tire Safety: A Critical but Overlooked Factor

  • Tire Pressure: A common misconception is that lowering tire pressure on highways prevents bursts. In reality, under-inflated tires flex more, generating excessive heat due to friction, leading to blowouts.
  • Correct Pressure is Key: Maintaining correct tire pressure is crucial for high-speed driving safety.
  • TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System): The lack of importance given to TPMS in safety ratings (and its inclusion primarily for fuel economy benefits) is criticized.

Conclusion

The discussion concludes that while crash test ratings have increased awareness and pushed manufacturers to build structurally sound cars, the ultimate responsibility for road safety lies with the driver. A holistic approach that prioritizes active safety features, rigorous driver training, and improved road engineering, alongside continued advancements in passive safety, is essential to reduce India's alarming road fatality rates.

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