Rust in peace? Delhi’s old car worries shift from pollution to protection, shows survey

As Delhi’s roads brace for sweeping restrictions on older vehicles, a surprising new trend is emerging—not in exhaust fumes, but in public sentiment. A consumer survey by Park+ Research Labs has revealed that for Delhiites, it's no longer just the black smoke that's troubling. It’s the growing fear that outdated vehicles may be putting lives at risk.

The survey, conducted across 10,000 car owners in the Delhi-NCR region, suggests that India’s regulatory focus on pollution may be overlooking a critical threat: road safety. And the concern isn’t just abstract—it’s personal.

Safety first, emissions second

The findings show a marked shift in what people consider the bigger problem with ageing cars.

Though by a slim majority—54% of respondents—believe 15-year-old vehicles are simply unsafe to drive, not because of their carbon footprint, but because they lack essential safety features like airbags, ABS brakes, and driver-assist technologies like ADAS.

On the other hand, when asked what mattered more in an older car, 46% pointed to emissions control. This subtle but significant divide indicates that many Delhiites see outdated vehicles as ticking time bombs on wheels.

Risk on the Roads

The concerns are well-founded. The report notes global studies that show that vehicles older than a decade pose higher crash and fatality risks. For example:

• Teens driving cars over 15 years old face a 31% higher crash-death risk.
  
• Even vehicles between 6–15 years old come with a 19% higher crash fatality rate.
  
• Drivers of older vehicles are more likely to be involved in a crash (30% vs. 25% for newer cars).
  
• Older cars often lack lifesaving features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist.

Ban or not to ban?

Delhi’s current policy—banning fuel supply to petrol vehicles over 15 years old and diesel vehicles over 10—remains a polarising topic.

The Park+ survey found an even 50-50 split on whether the policy is the right approach. Half support the ban as necessary for environmental and public health reasons; the other half argue it's too blunt an instrument and misses more pressing safety concerns.

Instead of blanket bans, many respondents favoured more nuanced solutions:

• 29% support mandatory annual safety inspections for older vehicles.
  
• 28% advocate for stricter enforcement of PUCC norms.
  
• 27% want improved public transport systems to reduce private vehicle dependency.
  

Interestingly, the public’s perception of pollution sources is also shifting. Only 25% of respondents blamed vehicles as the primary cause of Delhi’s toxic air. In contrast, a larger share pointed to illegal industries (33%), stubble burning (26%), and unauthorized construction (15%) as the real culprits.