More stars for more cars

Size is no obstacle to protecting vehicle occupants from injury in the event of a crash, according to latest results from the European New Car Assessment Programme.

It is a decade since the crash test programme was launched and while latest results underline the safety credentials of smaller vehicles, particularly in protecting drivers and passengers, concerns remain that carmakers are failing to design vehicles that protect pedestrians in the event of a collision.

Euro NCAP secretary general Adrian Hobbs said: "I am happy that manufacturers are now achieving four or more stars in our adult occupant rating, but am continually disappointed that they are still not reaching the highest scores in the pedestrian rating. I am hoping that we will see increased performance in this crucial area of car safety."

The 'crossover' Nissan Qashqai has achieved the highest score for adult occupant protection since Euro NCAP was established. It also received four stars for child protection. In pedestrian protection, the vehicle received two stars, 0.38 short of three stars.

Euro NCAP's small family car class has seen 'colourful' results over the last year or so ranging from a two-star strikethrough to some high scoring five-star cars, but until the Qashqai no car had received a full 37 points in the adult occupant protection rating.

Euro NCAP's front and side impact testing verifies the crash worthiness of the vehicle and looks for any injury that may occur to the driver or the passenger from structural deformation of the car and vehicle deceleration as a result of an accident. The pole test looks at potential injuries to the head.

Mr Hobbs said: "This is a particularly impressive result for this manufacturer since the Qashqai is a new vehicle in this category."

The new Land Rover Freelander 2 became the first small off-roader to gain the maximum five-star adult occupant protection rating.

Jonathan Mabey, Land Rover's vehicle safety manager, said: "Safety is of paramount importance for Land Rover and for Freelander 2 to be the only compact SUV to be awarded the maximum star rating is a fantastic achievement."

Meanwhile, the Suzuki Grand Vitara, another recently-launched small off-roader, provided better pedestrian protection than the Freelander 2, becoming only the third small off-roader to be awarded three stars, the highest pedestrian rating so far awarded in this category.

Euro NCAP tested its first small off-roader in 2002 (a Honda CR-V) and since then has tested nine cars in the category. Until the latest results, the maximum score achieved in adult occupant protection by manufacturers in this category was four stars.

Euro NCAP tested the previous Freelander in 2003, when it achieved a result of three stars in the adult rating.

Mr Hobbs said: "I am delighted that Land Rover has made such an improvement to the level of protection offered to its occupants. It is perhaps surprising that, until now, no small off-roader has managed to achieve a five-star rating.

"I am disappointed though that the company has not invested the same effort into improving the level of protection it offers to pedestrians. The Freelander 2 only achieved one star in pedestrian protection, just as it did in 2003. It concerns me that manufacturers are still not considering the dangers posed by their vehicles in relation to the outside environment.”

Similarly two new superminis, the Mini Cooper and the Peugeot 207 CC, have both achieved the coveted award of five stars for adult occupant protection. The 207 CC is the highest scoring supermini-based convertible.

Euro NCAP said: "With the achievement of a five-star score, BMW has upped the level of safety for adult occupants in the new Mini Cooper since the last model version of the car was tested in 2002. The Peugeot 207 CC also reveals that it is not a car just designed to embellish the driving experience, but also that it is a safe car for adults. Unfortunately it was not possible to assess the protection afforded to children in the 207CC (the car was not large enough to fit the recommended child restraints on the rear seats, with the front seats in the normal position for average sized occupants). Both cars achieved a poor two-star score in pedestrian protection."

The European New Car Assessment Programme has given a makeover to its website, which is accessible at www.euroncap.com. The site, ' an essential source of safety information', contains viewable crash footage, photos and safety results from all Euro NCAP crash tests for a whole range of vehicles.

New secretary general

The new secretary general of the European New Car Assessment Programme from the autumn will be Michiel van Ratingen. He will take up the post when current secretary general Adrian Hobbs retires.

Mr van Ratingen is a mechanical engineer with extensive vehicle safety experience. He worked at TNO, as head of automotive safety, and later at First Technology Safety Systems.

Euro NCAP chairman Claes Tingvall said: "With Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP can continue to be the most influential safety adviser to European consumers aiming to choose the safest possible car. Michiel will lead the organisation into an exciting future with the advanced safety technologies that are now being developed."

Mr Hobbs retires at the end of 2007 after over 35 years working in accident research, vehicle safety and Euro NCAP. He initiated the Euro NCAP programme and has taken a leading role in its development. He joined the Euro NCAP secretariat in 2003.

Mr Tingvall said: "Adrian Hobbs has helped Euro NCAP elevate car safety to a level no one could have anticipated 10 years ago. Adrian has been one of the world leaders in vehicle safety."

New crash standards ahead

A new standard for crash repair methods is being drawn up by Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre.

With vehicle design becoming ever-more complex, model specific repair methods are seen as vital if cars are to be repaired back to pre-crash condition with the original construction integrity and safety features reinstated and ready to protect occupants in the event of another crash.

Carmakers use a mix of construction techniques and materials that demand specific repair methods and specialised equipment and skills, says Thatcham.

Currently repair methods are produced in a variety of formats that, says Thatcham, would be more effective if formulated in one recognised industry standard, encompassing all aspects of crash repair whether cosmetic or structural. Thatcham chief executive Peter Roberts said: "While crash repair methods exist for the majority of vehicles, at Thatcham we are becoming increasingly concerned at the efficacy of these methods which in some cases are inadequate and not comprehensive in their coverage of specific repair techniques."

Thatcham, which has been producing crash data for more than 35 years, says it will have a defined criteria, process and audit mechanism for the delivery of in-house and third party generated crash repair methods for UK volume selling cars by the end of 2007.

Euro NCAP secretary general Adrian Hobbs said: "Vehicle designers are reacting to the demands of the consumer for safety and sustainability as driven by Euro NCAP's test programme. However, we are as interested in the continued safety performance of a repaired vehicle equalling our original test performance. We welcome this move to drive standardisation of repair methods."

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