New Delhi September 23, 2018 His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Michael of Kent and member of British Royal family will be visiting India in connection with the first ever Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) World Congress being held in national capital Delhi and will be the key note speaker at the inaugural session on September 27, 2018 .
HRH Prince Michael is patron of Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) a UK-based independent body that conducts crash safety tests on cars across the world . It is hosting its first ever ‘Global NCAP World Congress’ in New Delhi, India in partnership with Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) from September 26-29, 2018 .
.For more than Three decades HRH Prince Michael of Kent has played a leading role in supporting improved road safety both in the United Kingdom and around the world. The Prince has established the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards, served as Patron of the influential Commission for Global Road Safety, and strongly supported the current UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. As patron of the Towards Zero Foundation which has launched new initiatives including the ‘Stop the Crash’ campaign.
In India the launch of the campaign will take place at the Buddh International Circuit, India’s only F1 track and will be accompanied by live demonstrations of safety systems on September 26 , 2018 . The demonstrations will include a showcase of how much safer cars can get with the likes of ESC or electronic stability control and autonomous emergency braking. The demonstrations will also showcase ABS for two wheelers.
“The ‘Stop The Crash’ program will also push for adoption of autonomous braking systems across platforms, a technology that is known to greatly reduce the risk to both the car in question and other vehicles around it in case of a detected crash/obstacle. Apart from four wheelers, NCAP is also pushing for ABS or anti lock brakes to become compulsory for all two wheelers in various countries including India. New two wheelers sold in India greatly outnumber the number of cars sold in the country and safer two wheelers can greatly reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on Indian roads. “said Mr. David Ward, Secretary General of Global NCAP and Chairman of the ‘Stop the Crash’ Partnership at launch of the initiative in India.
‘The main aim of World Congress being held in Delhi is to facilitate high level dialogue on a global roadmap for vehicle safety with the automobile manufacturers, senior policy makers, road safety experts, and fleet managers. A key theme of the World Congress will be how NCAPs worldwide have succeeded in building a market for safer cars by raising consumer awareness of the critical safety choices they make when buying a new vehicle. The experience of NCAPs in South East Asia and Latin America and their relevance to similar emerging markets in India and Africa will also be discussed.”” Said Dr Rohit Baluja , President, Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) which is partner host of GNCAP World Congress in India .
“Some of the subjects that will be discussed during the world congress will be Vehicle Safety and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, The Role and Development of NCAPs in Emerging Markets, Priorities for Motorcycle Safety, Safer Cars for India, Fleet Safety – A Catalyst for Five Star Safety, A Road Map for Vehicle Safety – Major Trends & Opportunities to 2030”said Mr. Ward.
“Eminent Speakers at the Congress will include Mr Lauchlan McIntosh, Chairman of Global NCAP, Mr David Ward, Secretary General, Global NCAP , Dr Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim, Secretary General, ASEAN NCAP, Mr Alberto Escobar, Board Member, Latin NCAP & Manager Public Affairs Chile Automobile Club,, Mr Philip Purnell, Head of Public Affairs, Automobile Association of South Africa, Mr Walter Nissler, Chief of Vehicle Regulations & Transport Innovations Section, UN Economic Commission for Europe, Mr John Chatterton Ross LLB (Hons), Director Public Affairs, Federation International de Motorcylisme, Mr Michael Woodford, MBE Executive Chairman, Safer Roads Foundation, Mr Edwin Bastiaensen, Secretary General, International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association” said Dr Baluja.
“From India Joint Secretary Mr. Abhay Damle ,Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Mr. G. K. Pillai IAS Retd, Former Union Home Secretary and Advisor IRTE are expected to participate along with representatives from Indian automobile manufacturing Associations and NGO’s working for road safety. A video Message from Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation in the Government of India will be another major highlight of the congress” said Dr Baluja.
