Generally, Indians value fuel consumption or some other non-safety factor when considering what automobile (auto) to buy. What we do not understand until it's too late is that the cost of a major accident, ranging from medical bills to permanent disabilities to ourselves and our family, usually negates the money saved on a non-safety factor such as fuel consumption.
In addition, I once read a statistic years ago that India allegedly had the second highest number of daytime road accidents (Egypt was #1) and the highest number of nighttime accidents in the world. I do not know whether that statistic has improved for 2008.
Regarding motorcycles or "donorcycles," the term given by hospital personnel, it's obvious the extreme risks one takes by using a private 2-wheeler versus public transportation or even the cheapest, oldest, most unsafe 4-wheeler. Motorcyclists in India do not seem to understand how firmly and securely a full-face helmet needs to fit on one's head and how important it is to use internationally approved and respected helmets and body-armour. Yes, it's true that good helmets and armour can cost as much or more than the 2-wheeler but if you cannot afford the cost of safety equipment BEFORE buying a two-wheeler, it would be wise not to even seriously think of buying a two-wheeler. And even if you can afford the safety equipment, you should STILL think twice before buying that two-wheeler. Just look at the deaths of our own Teambhp members who were 2-wheeler enthusiasts. I agree with Ratan Tata's idea where it is better to see an individual or family of four inside a tiny Nano which has some protection rather than zero protection on an unstable 2-wheeler.
So, what should we consider before purchasing new/used auto's?
Seatbelts, Head restraints, Airbags, ABS, ESP, TPMS, Motion-activated central locking, Rollover sensor, Child Seats, and most important of all -- Independent Crash Test Results.
1) Do all the passengers receive a seat belt? If so, is that belt a 2-point or a 3-point belt? Why? Because a 2-point belt does not stop the upper body from being whipped forward during a crash, causing internal organ bleeding. People have lost their spleens due to 2-point belt internal injuries.
2) Does each passenger receive a head restraint? Why? Because whiplash can be a severe injury especially in a rear-impact crash.
3) How many airbags? Does the auto have front, side, and curtain airbags? Are the side airbags located in the door or in the seat? Does the manufacturer offer optional airbags in addition to the standard ones?
4) Does it have ABS (anti-lock braking)?
5) Does it have ESP/ESC? Up to a point, Electronic Stability Program/Control can prevent loss of control. Loss of control can lead to a crash or rollover. And for enthusiasts the question is: Can it be switched off partially or completely and does it switch on by default every time the auto is started?
6) Does it have TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system)? Does the TPMS readout give individual tyre readings or not?
7) Does it have motion-activated central locking? Why? Because during a crash, the doors can open, helping to eject a passenger partially or completely. If the auto is programmed to lock the doors above a speed of 10-20 kmph, occupants are safer.
8) Does the auto, especially SUV's, have a rollover sensor? Why? You would be amazed how easily cars and SUV's roll when they lose control and hit a low object at an angle even when they have not hit any other vehicle. If there is no side-impact, the curtain airbags will not fire unless a rollover sensor is present.
9) Will your children's car seat fit correctly with either the seat belt or the LATCH system? Do you have a rear-facing car seat for children up to 3-4 years like they do in Sweden? Children up to age 12 should be belted into a full seat or a booster seat until they are tall enough and heavy enough that the shoulder belt of the 3-point belt can rest correctly across their collar bone without touching their neck and the lap belt can rest correctly across their hips and not their abdomen.
10) The Ultimate Test is Independent Crash Test Results. Have you reviewed these results and how did the auto in question fare? Why? A crash test takes all the theoretical calculations, some of the safety gadgets plus the auto's structure and subjects them all to a real-world test. This test is so difficult that the best manufacturers in the world have trouble passing it with flying colours consistently for all their models.
Therefore, please see if the auto you are thinking of buying has been crash tested on any of the following websites:
Europe:
Euro NCAP - For safer cars | HOME
U.S.A. : (Note: IIHS tests are offset frontal and perpendicular side while the government's Safercar/NHTSA/NCAP tests are complete frontal and angled side.)
US NCAP - NHTSA, United States, New Car Assessment Program, North American Cars IIHS-HLDI: Crash Testing*&*Highway Safety Safercar.gov
Australia:
ANCAP :: Crash Test Results
Japan:
National Organization for Automotive Safety & Victim's Aid
China started their NCAP program two years ago. Hopefully, India will follow.
Remember, if an auto model in question has not been tested, see if you can find out through wikipedia whether it shares its platform with another auto model. Then check if the latter has been tested. If so, then you can have a rough idea of the crash safety of the former.
Please NOTE: All bets on safety are off if you crash at a speed which exceeds the speed at which the above mentioned crash tests are conducted. Therefore, travelling at a speed so high that you will not be able to brake in time to get down to within the crash design tolerances is unwise.
The future will bring us even better technology to protect us in a crash but we need to keep ourselves informed by reading and use that information to make a better cost to benefit ratio analysis for any auto we consider buying.
I hope to educate and be educated on the topic of auto crash safety so please respond on aspects I may have overlooked. Thank you.