EuroNCAP to toughen safety standards next year

[PanterroR]

When the EuroNCAP (European New Car Assessment Program) was established back in 1997 the achievement of a five star rating in any of the categories seemed almost impossible. Just over ten years later, 97% of vehicles tested scored either a four or a five star rating in the crucial adult occupant protection category. The program has for long been seen as a benchmark to push carmakers to improve safety levels of their vehicles, but with most now achieving almost perfect scores there’s pressure for regulators to toughen the standards.

Starting next year it will be tougher for carmakers to earn a top score as regulators are planning to introduce an all-new rating system. There are still areas of safety that the EuroNCAP believes is need of improvement - namely the area of pedestrian safety. No carmaker has yet claimed a top score of four stars in pedestrian protection, with most averaging about two stars.

Carmakers have focused on improving occupant safety to attract customers but this has come at a cost to pedestrian safety. To overcome this problem, the new rating system will reward the overall safety of a vehicle. It will also take into account for the first time advanced driver assistance technologies such as electronic stability control and anti whiplash devices.

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

In a statement issued today to announce the changes to the test, the EuroNCAP’s secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said “It is imperative that EuroNCAP continues to set higher benchmarks for carmakers to aspire to. Our new rating system will do this.” He also revealed that “the five star cars of today will not be the five star cars of tomorrow.”

There’s now similar pressure on regulators in other regions to also toughen standards for crash safety. Last month the U.S. government revealed changes to the NCAP testing procedure and prior to that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) changed a number of standards for roof safety.


Source: Motor Authority >> EuroNCAP to toughen safety standards next year

 

[cawimmer430]

YAY! GREAT!

Ladies and gentleman, the car of the future! Designed by the EU!

 

[Tarek]

^ Lol

But seriously some of car desigms suffers from the upright front and huge side mirrors,EU safety regulations are becoming overly idiotic.

 

[EnI]

^ Lol

But seriously some of car desigms suffers from the upright front and huge side mirrors,EU safety regulations are becoming overly idiotic.

Not at all. Function over form.

 

[coolraoul]

I agree completely with you, EnI. Form following function, and here the function is to save life. Can't get a more serious function.

I can live with a car with slightly too big mirrors and a straigt and high bonnet, if it saves life.

 

[Centurion]

I agree completely with you, EnI. Form following function, and here the function is to save life. Can't get a more serious function.

I can live with a car with slightly too big mirrors and a straigt and high bonnet, if it saves life.

Well try saving your victim from getting stuck under your car or ending up getting hit slamming straight on to the asphalt. Let's see how the cars will look in 3-5 years. If they are misshaped I suspect the used car market will be very lucrative.

 

[Tarek]

^ Isn't the more upright front is there coz pedestrian safety in a collision? also the the silly big side mirrors for wide rear view?

IMO in the future cars will designed with lots of restrictions.

 

[Centurion]

Soon we'll see cow catchers on SUV

 

[ZicZachZo]

I highly doubt that it will ever get that extreme. It's a hard mix that the automakers must follow due to all of the different restrictions that must be met due to environmental regulators, safety regulators, customer preference, etc. etc. Safety is of top concern to not just the EU and other government board but also to buyers now. Automotive safety just keeps getting better and better. Nobody said it doesn't come at a price. And in this case it's the design that will suffer.

 

[Gullwing]

Easier fix to the problem of pedestrian safety, the airbag jacket. When the stupid neighborhood kids are playing in the street and refuse to move, you can just charge them and boom the jacket goes off and you can then play soccer with them
Then let car designers design good looking cars