South-East Asian crash test program commences

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) congratulated the new South-East Asian crash test program, ASEAN NCAP, on its first official crash test conducted in Malaysia this week.

This test is the first of seven scheduled as part of Phase I of the ASEAN NCAP test program. Each of the vehicles will undergo a frontal offset crash test at 64 km/h (consistent with the ANCAP test protocol) at a purpose-built crash test facility located in Malacca, Malaysia. Following assessment of structural performance and injury data obtained from dummy occupants, each vehicle will be awarded a safety star rating by ASEAN NCAP.

"This first test is a step towards improving road safety in the ASEAN region," said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Mr Nicholas Clarke.

"Over 100,000 lives are lost each year as a result of road fatalities in ASEAN countries and with the rapid increase in motorisation in this region, the situation will only worsen unless action is taken."

The establishment of ASEAN NCAP is one of the key objectives of Global NCAP - to expand New Car Assessment Programs into emerging markets as part of the United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020).

"As part of the Decade, ANCAP has assisted with the establishment of ASEAN NCAP providing technical and program support and advice to ensure the ASEAN program pursues protocols and procedures that will provide meaningful, accurate, repeatable and reliable test results. The results yielded by ASEAN NCAP testing will raise consumer awareness in the region and ensure motor vehicle safety standards are elevated."

Phase I of the ASEAN NCAP test program will cover the Ford Fiesta, Honda City, Hyundai i10, Nissan March, Perodua MyVi, Proton Saga and Toyota Vios.

"While road fatalities in developed countries are generally decreasing, they are on the rise across the ASEAN region. We're already seeing this new ASEAN test program put pressure on manufacturers to supply safer vehicles, and simple technologies such as anti-lock brakes (ABS) for motorcycles will also help combat the toll," said Mr Clarke.

Results from the ASEAN NCAP testing will be available in 2013.

ASEAN NCAP is administered by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) with the support of Global NCAP, ANCAP, and the Automobile Associations of ASEAN countries. Further details on Australia's support for the ASEAN NCAP test program can be viewed here.