Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 given an adult safety rating of 0 by Latin NCAP

If one was to describe the kind of driving experience he/she has on Indian roads, safety would be the last word to be uttered. Even in factors that influence the decision of a car buyer in India, safety falls behind other things like price, colour and auspiciousness. According to a recent development, the lack of safety factors in Indian cars was quantified by the Latin NCAP (New Car Assessment Program), which gave the Alto K10 hatchback an appalling score of nought in terms of adult safety. Industry experts have expressed their shock and concern regarding this score, terming it as a major concern.

Considered to be an iconic vehicle in India, around 20000 units of the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 were sold in the month of July 2013. Cars from India are exported to Latin America and the survey in the region has raised a big question over the safety aspect of Indian cars. According to the reports, the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 did not qualify the bare minimum standards that were set by authorities in Latin America. Some of the features that were not present in the Alto K10 included Anti-lock Braking System and airbags, considered to be mandatory in Latin America.

Analysts have said that it is an issue that needs to be addressed soon, in order to make Indian cars at par with international standards. This is not the first time that a finger has been pointed at the safety levels that are prevalent on Indian roads. A survey conducted in 2009 reported that India had the highest number of fatalities that took place on roads. There are a number of reasons that have led to this position, such as rash driving, lack of adherence to traffic regulations and minimal safety features in cars. Experts from the industry say that organisation should be established in India, which keep a tab on the safety standards being maintained in cars. It must be noted that auto makers in India recorded huge volumes in India because of low pricing, thereby conveniently forgetting to pay any sort of attention to the safety levels in their models.

However, these kind of surveys have been regular occurrences for a while now. Unfortunately, such revelations have just resulted in debates and discussions regarding what needs to be done without any substantial actions being taken. One thing that is highly plausible and can make a huge difference is a national level program that educates drivers about the importance of safety. Though this process is likely to take time, it is surely the right step towards ensuring safety of thousands of people who travel on roads on a daily basis. Not only the consumers, car makers also need to pay attention towards enhancing the safety levels of vehicles.