ASEAN-NCAP to continue crash, safety tests amid COVID-19 hurdles

The New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP) is an automobile safety rating program founded in 2011. It is a collaborative effort between the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Global NCAP.

Currently, it has six member organizations with the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) in it.

Crash tests are important as they can help increase the safety standards of a vehicle manufacturer, hence helping minimize losses from unwanted accidents.

The ASEAN NCAP rates the safety of a car based on its Adult Occupant Protection which contributes 50% to the overall rating, Child Occupant Protection which contributes 25%, and Safety Assist which contributes the remaining 25%.

The 2020 Honda City bagged a 5-star safety rating with an overall score of 86.54 

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With the COVID-19 pandemic on the loose, ASEAN-NCAP ensures that its operations will continue despite the adversities it is facing, handing out six solutions to face the challenges. These safety measures will help the safety rating program to ensure the health and safety of its employees. 

1. New vehicles with a curb weight of 1,400 kg and below, it is advisable for the test to be conducted at MIROS Provisional CRASE Crash Center (PC3) laboratory in Malaysia. Tests that are conducted at MIROS PC3 will be attended and witnessed by ASEAN NCAP Inspectors.
2. For new vehicles with a curb weight of 1,400 kg and above, the test may be performed at other facilities that serve as an official laboratory for ASEAN NCAP, without the presence of ASEAN NCAP Inspectors to witness the test. The facilities are as stipulated in the Guideline for Crash Laboratory Selection.
3. With no inspector presence for tests conducted at facilities other than MIROS PC3, vehicle manufacturers, crash laboratory representatives and ASEAN NCAP Inspectors may conduct a video conference to perform modifier assessment of the crash test vehicle.

The ASEAN NCAP started off its 2020 assessment with the Isuzu D-Max that earned a 5-star rating

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4. Although there are changes in the way we conduct the assessment, the same assessment fee still applies per guideline.
5. For the blind spot test, manufacturers are allowed to submit in-house data.
6. ASEAN NCAP will not delay the implementation of its 2021-2025 assessment protocol.

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