ASEAN NCAP ratings might become a mandate in the Philippines

MANILA: In recent times, safety ratings of automobiles have become one of the most important and deciding factors for customers while purchasing a car. Moreover, safety ratings very clearly expose the level of security that a vehicle will offer to its occupants. Various tests performed by different New Car Assesment Program(s) (NCAP) on newly launched cars are the perfect testing grounds for the latter to prove their mettle.

While the ASEAN NCAP ratings have been revealing the safety quotient of cars offered in the region since 2012, the Philippines is yet to make it compulsory for the automobile manufacturers to label their offerings with the ratings.

MIROS Provisional CRASE Crash Center (PC3), Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI), Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KATRI),  and CrashLab Australia and China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC) are the top testing facilities in the ASEAN region that perform several safety inspections and protection tests on the cars that are offered in the region. Although most of the cars are now tested by ASEAN NCAP, not all markets are utilising the reports, said ASEAN NCAP Technical Leader Yahaya Ahmad at the Vehicle Safety Course 2019 that was held on September 17, 2019.

Furthermore, Ahmad was very optimistic about working in conjunction with the Philippines. "We are open to work on this probable legislation. Because our main goal here is consumers’ more informed choices", said the Technical Leader. Countries like the USA have already made it mandatory for automobile manufacturers to label their cars with their respective safety ratings. Following the suite, Malaysia has also introduced the practice.

Ahmad also mentioned that the vehicles that haven't undergone the safety tests yet will be labelled as "not tested". Besides, the automakers who do not adhere to the mandate will have to bear substantial penalties. What do you think? Should the Philippines also make it mandatory for automobile manufacturers to label their cars with their respective safety ratings?

Also Read: Everything you need to know about vehicle registered in the Philippines