5-star rated cars: Are they really indestructible?

Over the course of over a century, the humble motor car has evolved. The need for speed has resulted in cars being powered by incredibly powerful engines. At the same time, suspension and brake technology has also evolved significantly. But there is one thing which binds every aspect together and that is vehicle safety.
Be it active safety or passive safety, most vehicles on the road today come with a host of safety features which actively try to avoid collisions and then, if there happens to be a collision, the systems built within try to save the occupants as much as possible. But is the car to blame when things go wrong? To understand this, we must first delve deep into the world of safety ratings.

Globally, there are multiple organisations which voluntarily test vehicles for safety. But in India, we have recently been blessed with the BNCAP or Bharat New Car Assessment Program. The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is the latest car to be blessed with a 5 star safety rating and so were cars like the Tata Nexon, Tata Punch, Tata Safari, Hyundai Verna, VW Virtus, Skoda Slavia and so on.
But do these ratings make these cars indestructible and immediately blameable in the wake of a crash? To come to a conclusion, we must first understand the anatomy of the crash test.
What is BNCAP?
BNCAP is a voluntary programme, which means it is not mandatory for car manufacturers to give their cars for crash testing to get a BNCAP safety rating. They may get their vehicles crash-tested and evaluated if they want to.

And why would they want to? To instil a sense of confidence among the car-buying public that the car is safe and also because they have to pay a fraction of the cost to get a safety rating from BNCAP as opposed to other new car assessment programmes, specifically Global NCAP. After all five stars do seem to be the pinnacle of all ratings.
What are the tests, parameters and how are stars awarded?
Under Bharat NCAP, cars will be rated for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and awarded points out of 32, while for Child Occupant Protection (COP) it will be out of 49. AOP comprises 16 points for the frontal offset deformable barrier test that will be carried out at a speed of 64kmph, while the remaining 16 points will be awarded for the side impact test, again comprising the side moveable deformable barrier test carried out at 54kmph and the pole side impact test that is carried out at 29kmph.
The 49 points for COP are divided into 24 for the dynamic score, another 12 for the installation of child restraint systems and the final 13 for vehicle assessment.
Cars are awarded five stars if their scores are above 27 for AOP and 41 for COP. Four stars are awarded for scores of over 22 and 35 respectively, and three for 16 and 27 points, two for 10 and 18 and finally one for a four-point score for AOP and a nine-point score for COP.
Now to come to a conclusion, it is clear that the maximum speed at which the car is tested is 64kmph. So quite clearly, any crash beyond this speed is unpredictable and can cause a certain degree of damage and possible loss of life. This clearly means that a motor vehicle that is driven at break neck speeds cannot guarantee protection and such has been the case yet again when we refer to the Dehradun accident.

The car was reported to have been speeding and the impact at such speeds could only result in fatal or near fatal results. Quite clearly, then the car is not to blame in this case.
ADAS, seat belts, traction control are there to help, but need your support
Every manufacturer works hard to make a car as safe as possible. Cars are loaded with a multitude of airbags, seat belts and electronic aids like ADAS, ABS, Traction Control, TPMS and so on. We as drivers need to respect these features and make full use of them.
Each and every passenger in the car has to be belted into the seat. Children should most importantly be strapped into a child-seat and should not be jumping around in the cabin or be in the lap of the front passenger. Here is the reason for it. The modern car is equipped with an airbag which works in conjunction with the seat belt.
In case of a crash, the airbag works as a cushion and to avoid suffocation, the seat belt’s job is to pull the occupant back into the seat. A child in the lap of the front passenger will act as a projectile. Such will also be the case of the rear seat passenger who will plunge towards the front seat.

(Image: Bharat NCAP website)

The other big development in vehicle safety is ADAS or Advanced Driver Assistance System. As you can clearly see, ADAS is an assistance system and does not make your vehicle a self-drive car. So, even with ADAS fully active, one has to hold on to the steering wheel normally and not leave it. The system will also apply the brakes for you if need be, but the driver still has to be in control of the vehicle.
It is also apt to tell you that the ABS system in your car is there to allow you to steer away from the obstacle in front, and it does that by not allowing the wheels to lock up when braking hard.
The conclusion
Quite simply, then no car is indestructible and the safety of the passengers is in the hands of the driver. One has to drive the car when one is fresh and not under the influence. One also has to ensure that the car is driven under the speed limits and that all rules of the roads are followed. It is also the responsibility of the passengers to ensure that the driver is abiding by the rules.
If you are in a cab and the driver is jumping the signal, either ask him not to do it or, worst case, get out and take another cab. Remember, a driver’s mistake can bring a great deal of harm to you as well. So take automotive safety seriously and not just drive safe, but also get driven safely.