Legal and Consumer Requirements in ASEAN Countries 2014-01-2027
South East Asia is one of the regions with highest traffic-related fatality rates worldwide −18.5 fatalities per 100.000 inhabitants-. In response to that, governments of ASEAN countries are currently introducing new regulations, which will help to improve the road safety standards in the region. This paper reviews new safety regulations in force of following ASEAN countries: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
General safety trends promote the approach to international standards as well as the adoption of UNECE regulations. In fact, the 1958 agreement was signed by Thailand and Malaysia in 2006. Besides, Malaysia has gradually adopted fifty-three UNECE regulations so far and is currently considering the inclusion of twenty-four more.
After the success of other NCAP organizations, the ASEAN NCAP assessment program was established in 2011. This program is powered by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP). Its purpose is to encourage manufacturers to improve the safety performance of their products by providing consumers with reliable and objective information about the protection provided by these vehicles.
Vehicles launched in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and/or Vietnam can be tested, assessed and rated by this organization. The program performs a frontal impact test at 64 km/h and 40% overlap to analyze, through objective and subjective methods; the protection provided to both adult and child occupants. Scores are weighted and translated to a star rating.
This paper also analyzes these assessment methods, emphasizing the innovations incorporated by this new program. Practical cases are explained to better illustrate the functioning of this new system.
Safety regulations are the mainstay of road safety. Thus, the introduction of new or existing safety regulations represents a remarkable achievement but also a necessary step towards safer roads. Additionally, initiatives such as NCAP programs have also proved their effectiveness in other markets as well as its contribution to the implementation of new and safer technologies.
