Crash testers move the goalposts

Aug 27 2008 David Whinyates

Crash testers move the goalposts

CAR makers efforts to make their vehicles as safe as houses for adult passengers could be leading to safety short cuts in other areas, according to top crash testing organisation EuroNCAP.

As Euro NCAP released details of another batch of crash test results, with four out of the five cars gaining the top Five Star award for adult occupant protection, the organisation also announced that it is planning an overhaul of its rating system to put more emphasis on child and pedestrian safety.

Of the five cars tested recently, none were awarded more than two stars for pedestrian impact protection while two cars which received five stars for adult occupant protection were only given three stars for child protection.

EuroNCAP believes that manufacturers are putting more effort into making their cars safe for adults in order to earn top ratings which can then be used as a marketing tool.

Of the 34 car models tested and assessed by Euro NCAP in one year, 97 per cent have achieved either a four or a five star result for adult occupant protection. By comparison no manufacturer achieves a four star result in pedestrian protection and some 67 per cent of models tested in the last year were awarded just two stars in this rating.

Euro NCAP says it is concerned that many manufacturers set out to achieve high scores for adult occupant protection to attract consumers, whilst compromising safety investment in other areas.

Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP says: "I am delighted that more and more manufacturers are achieving five stars in our crash-tests, but it is imperative that Euro NCAP continues to set higher benchmarks for car makers to aspire to. Our new rating system will do this.

¿I have no doubt that manufacturers will step up to the challenge, just as they did when we first started. The creation of new technologies means enhanced safety performance and a potential reduction of fatalities on our roads. We intend to reward those manufacturers that make this their ultimate goal.¿

The maximum rating in Euro NCAP¿s new system will continue to be five stars. But the new overall rating will reflect the protection offered to adult and child occupants as well as pedestrians and will, for the first time, consider the safety potential of advanced driver assistance technologies such as electronic stability control. The assessment of adult occupant protection will be expanded to include whiplash testing.

The first results for vehicles tested under this new rating system will be released next February.