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Welcome to a special edition of the ANCAPStar – a round-up of the latest news from Automotive Safety Week 2012: South East Asia and the inaugural Global NCAP Annual Meeting.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) provides consumers with independent and transparent advice and information on the level of occupant protection provided by vehicles in the event of serious accidents. Our member organisations include the Australian and New Zealand automobile clubs, Australian Federal and State Governments, New Zealand Government, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation (UK).
Meet all of our member organisations.
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Latest Media Releases.
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30 May 2012
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New Crash Test Program for South East Asia
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ANCAP today congratulated the Malaysian Government on the establishment of a New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) for the South East Asian region - ASEAN NCAP.
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29 May 2012
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BHP Billiton Announces 5 Star NCAP Fleet Policy
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ANCAP today applauded the announcement by multi-national resources company, BHP Billiton, to introduce a 5 star NCAP safety rating requirement across its worldwide vehicle fleet
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Automotive Safety Week 2012: South East Asia.
On 22-25 May 2012 the Malaysian Government, through the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), hosted the very first automotive safety conference and exhibition for the South East Asian region – Automotive Safety Week 2012: South East Asia (ASW 2012). ASW 2012 was held in association with the inaugural Global NCAP Annual Meeting and marked the establishment of a New Car Assessment Program for the South East Asian region.
Global NCAP was established as part of the United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020) and one of its key objectives is to expand New Car Assessment Programs (NCAPs) into emerging markets. As a result, in December 2011 Global NCAP and MIROS signed a collaborative Memorandum of Understanding to establish a pilot project for an ASEAN NCAP to:
- elevate motor vehicle safety standards;
- encourage a market for safer vehicles; and
- raise consumer awareness in the South East Asian region.
ANCAP is also a signatory to this MOU as well as the Automotive Associations of Malaysia, Singapore and The Philippines.
In assisting with the establishment of ASEAN NCAP, ANCAP has provided technical and program support and advice to MIROS to ensure the ASEAN program pursues protocols and procedures that will provide meaningful, accurate, repeatable and reliable test results. The guidance provided by ANCAP has assisted ASEAN NCAP in aligning with other established NCAPs around the world.
ASW 2012 was held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Malacca, Malaysia and was attended by some 450 road and vehicle safety experts. ANCAP was proud to participate not only as a mentor to our regional ASEAN neighbours, but also as a Platinum sponsor and exhibitor at ASW 2012.
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Safer Cars for South East Asia.
The Malaysian road toll stands at close to 7000 deaths annually. This equates to approximately 25 deaths per 100,000 people – more than quadruple the Australian road toll. The implementation of a New Car Assessment Program within the South East Asian region will help reduce this substantial and unnecessary loss of life through the introduction of safer vehicles.
The establishment of ASEAN NCAP has already proved its worth with the decision by one manufacturer to introduce airbags into one of its models which is currently supplied across the South East Asian market without airbags.
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The Australasian Perspective.
Officially welcoming delegates to ASW 2012 was the Chief Minister of Melaka, Y.A.B. Datuk Seri Hj. Mohd. Ali bin Mohd Rustam. Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, Former Director-General of MIROS provided the keynote address with subsequent presentations covering the topics of:
- Active safety
- Passive safety
- Automotive simulation
- Green mobility in Malaysia
- Testing technologies
- Automotive performance
- Road safety initiatives
- Active safety
- Challenges for safer cars
- Electric vehicles
The Australasian perspective was shared with assembled delegates through a number of presentations provided by ANCAP representatives:
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ASW 2012 Exhibition & Demonstrations.
Complementing the formal ASW 2012 speakers' program, over 30 exhibitors were on hand throughout the week displaying their wares and sharing knowledge and advice. Exhibitors included child restraint manufacturer, Britax; the Malaysian vehicle safety inspection authority, Puspakom; automotive engineering solutions and services provider, Dazztech; and a number of vehicle manufacturers and dealer representatives from Toyota, Honda and Nissan as well as Malaysia's two largest local manufacturers - Proton and Perodua.
In continuing ANCAP's support of MIROS and ASEAN NCAP, representatives from ANCAP were on hand at the ANCAP exhibition booth which displayed a selection of crash test vision and provided internet access for delegates to search the almost 400 vehicle safety ratings within the ANCAP crash test database. A range of explanatory material on the Australasian crash test and star rating process was dispensed from the ANCAP booth along with the fielding of a variety of vehicle safety questions from delegates.
The ASW 2012 experience extended beyond the MITC trade halls out into the car park where representatives from Robert Bosch (Australia) Pty Ltd and Volvo demonstrated a number of active safety assist technologies. The distinct benefits of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) were demonstrated with a Proton Preve being driven around a marked circuit conducting swerving manoeuvres to demonstrate the vehicles' response in attempting to avoid a collision with a pedestrian or similar obstacle. The demonstration was first conducted with ESC disabled and then repeated with ESC enabled. The behaviour of the vehicle with ESC active was remarkable. ESC has been a mandatory requirement in order for a vehicle to achieve a 5 star ANCAP safety rating since 2008, with the Australian Government also introducing the mandatory fitting of ESC on all new-model passenger vehicles from November last year.
Bosch continued with a separate demonstration on the effects of anti-lock braking system (ABS) for motorcycles. A demonstration was conducted by one of Bosch Japan's engineers / test riders on a very common Malaysian model - a 125cc Honda (fitted with outriggers as a precaution). The first pass was conducted with ABS switched off; the second with ABS switched on. The first pass had the test rider swerve and skid sideways out of control when the brakes were applied without ABS. In contrast, with ABS on, the rider was in complete control and came to a quicker, straighter and considerably more controlled stop. This ABS unit developed by Bosch is now compact enough to be fitted on any size motorcycle, and with 60% of road deaths in Malaysia a result of motorcycle accidents, the inclusion of this safety technology we take for granted on vehicles will significantly assist in the reduction
of motorcycle-related fatalities.
The benefits of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) was also shown through a demonstration by Volvo. Several manufacturers have developed AEB technologies which can assist in avoiding or reducing the severity of a crash by detecting the distance and closing speed of objects in the path of the vehicle and automatically applying the brakes if driver does not heed visual and audible warnings.
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ASEAN NCAP Crash Testing.
The culminating feature of the ASW 2012 program was a visit to the brand new, purpose-built crash laboratory, MIROS PC3. This lab is located within the grounds of the Malaysian Police Academy (Akademi JPJ) just north of Melaka city.
Based on the ANCAP test protocol, ASEAN NCAP has commenced its crash test program with the conduct of a single frontal offset crash test. This test is conducted at a speed of 64 kilometres per hour and simulates hitting another car of the same mass travelling at the same speed. 40 per cent of the car impacts a crushable aluminium barrier. The test vehicle contains two adult dummies in the front seats and the rear seats are occupied by two child dummies - a three year old and an 18 month old.
For the purposes of the ASEAN NCAP launch, a demonstration test was conducted on a locally sold Toyota Vios (small four door sedan). The test was a success. As crash testing is a highly technical process, a number of further commissioning tests will be conducted by MIROS over the coming months to satisfy the integrity of their test procedures to ensure they are accurate, repeatable and reliable.
ANCAP technical staff will continue to mentor MIROS as they gain further experience in the crash testing process.
To commemorate the inaugural crash test and establishment of ASEAN NCAP, ANCAP Chairman, Mr Lauchlan McIntosh AM presented MIROS Director-General, Associate Professor Dr Wong Shaw Voon with a commemorative gift at the ASW 2012 dinner on 23 May 2012.
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Global NCAP Annual Meeting.
In conjunction with ASW 2012, the largest ever gathering of New Car Assessment Programs was held on 23-24 May 2012. The Global NCAP Annual Meeting brought together active NCAPs from across the world to share their experiences in promoting consumer information on vehicle safety and crash protection. The meeting covered the progress made by NCAPs in the first year of the UN Decade of Action as well as their significant commitments to vehicle safety for the forthcoming years of the Decade.
The Annual Meeting also featured a 'world tour' with representatives from NCAPs in the ASEAN region, Australia, China, Europe, Latin America, Korea, Japan and the USA (including NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) providing updates on their current activities. The Australasian update was provided by ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Mr Nicholas Clarke. An overview of consumer attitudes to vehicle safety in Australia, Europe and the USA, and similar recent surveys undertaken in the rapidly motorising regions, were also presented with ANCAP Chairman, Mr Lauchlan McIntosh commenting on the significant shift in consumer attitudes since the formation of ANCAP in 1992.
Further strengthening the country's road safety leadership role, the Malaysian Government has also decided to apply the UNs' regulation for frontal impact to all new passenger cars. This is in line with the recommendations on vehicle safety included in the Decade’s Global Plan which were featured in a seminar on the Decade chaired by ANCAP's Chairman, Mr Lauchlan McIntosh.
Global NCAP's Technical Director, Mr Alejandro Furas outlined its recommended 'top six' safety WP29's regulations which all consumers should demand when buying a new car. These standards include requirements regarding seat belts and their anchorages; front and side impact tests; electronic stability control; and pedestrian protection. Global NCAP also strongly recommends always choosing a 'five star' NCAP rated car whenever possible. Consistent with this recommendation, Mr David Jenkins, Vice President for Safety & Security at BHP Billiton, announced to delegates BHP's decision to introduce a 5 star NCAP vehicle policy across its worldwide fleet. To view ANCAP's media release on this announcement, click here.
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Global NCAP Annual Awards.
Guest of Honour at the Global NCAP Annual Meeting was His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent who presented the inaugural Global NCAP Annual Safety Awards on Thursday 24 May 2012. Congratulations to:
Consumer Champion Award - The Consumer Champion Award is awarded to an organisation promoting consumer information about motor vehicle safety:
Awarded to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – the originator of the world's first NCAP.
Individual Achievement Award - The Individual Achievement Award is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to motor vehicle safety and the protection of consumer:
Awarded to Ms Joan Claybrook who served as the Administrator of NHTSA from 1977-1981 with the first NCAP born under her leadership.
Innovation Award - The Innovation Award is awarded to an organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to innovation in motor vehicle safety and technology development:
Awarded to Robert Bosch GmbH, for their development of the anti-skid technology electronic stability control.
Presenting the awards, HRH Prince Michael congratulated the winners and Global NCAP, "Bringing together all the world's NCAPs each year is itself an important innovation and exactly the kind of innovation that will ensure the Decade of Action achieves meaningful results," he said.
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The 'Melaka Declaration'.
Global NCAP also adopted the 'Melaka Declaration' endorsing the vehicle safety aspects of the Global Plan for the Decade launched by the UN last year. These include the universal application of the UNs' most important vehicle safety regulations and the creation of NCAPs in all world regions. This was supported recently in a debate on road safety held in April by the UN General Assembly. Global NCAP's Chairman, Mr Max Mosley told the meeting, "Here in Melaka, we are turning the UN Assembly’s words into action, which is what the Decade should be all about."
The next Global NCAP Annual Meeting will be held in Seoul, Republic of Korea in conjunction with the 23rd Enhanced Safety of Vehicle Conference from 27-30 May 2013.
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