Renault tops the five-star league

Like its forebear, Laguna II, which was the first car to ever achieve the maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, new Laguna (pictured) benefi ts from Renault's 'acclaimed expertise' in active and passive safety.

In addition to the handling afforded by the chassis, new Laguna's braking performance is said to be one of the best in its category, particularly in tests to check for braking endurance under hot conditions (total stopping distance measured over 10 consecutive brake stops from 62 to 0 mph).

New Laguna's braking system will also be one of the most fade resistant on the market. New generation ABS technology with electronic stability control and EBA (Electronic Brake Assist) come as standard. In the domain of passive safety, Renault has developed solutions that take into account accident research and real-world behaviour, adopting an all-encompassing approach to achieve more effective occupant safety. Consequently, new Laguna is equipped with latest generation features, including double-chamber and double-pressure airbags combined with dual pre-tensioner seat belts.

However, the most impressive progress has been made in protection against side impacts, a major cause of accident fatalities. To guarantee better occupant safety in the event of a side impact, the electronic architecture of the vehicle has been enhanced to ensure that its protective systems are triggered sooner.

Using a device based on two sensors located in the front door and the centre pillar, a specific algorithm adjusts the release time according to the violence of the impact. In addition to this device, a new generation double side airbag (thorax and pelvis) has also been fitted.

Mondeo bristles with technology

The manufacturer's longestablished Intelligent Protection System has been enhanced to provide the latest driver assistance and occupant protection technologies, including a driver's knee airbag and full-length side curtain airbags (there are seven airbags in total), a collapsible steering column to take the wheel further away from the driver in a frontal crash and electronic stability control is also standard across the four-door, five-door and estate model line-up.

In addition, technologies available include adaptive cruise control with forward alert which offers audible and visual warnings when driving to prevent a crash with a vehicle in front, Ford's interactive vehicle dynamics control active suspension system with hill launch assist to prevent rolling whilst pulling away on a gradient and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The new Mondeo also features adaptive front lights, follow-mehome headlights and an improved neck injury protection system for front seat passengers. The DVD navigation system is a totally new development and is launched by Ford for the first time in the new Mondeo.

The basic foundation for the safety features is the Mondeo's ultra-stiff body structure, which reduces the deformation of the passenger safety cell so offering greater occupant protection in the event of a crash.

Meanwhile, the Ford S-Max, the 2007 Car of the Year, and the Ford Galaxy models are both now equipped with electronic stability control as standard across the range.

New bid to eliminate mobile mis-use

Ford has aligned itself with road safety efforts to eliminate the misuse of mobile phones while driving, by offering Bluetooth hands-free technology on most of its vehicles. A YouGov survey has shown that 38% of managers would not feel responsible if a crash due to a work related call on a hand-held phone occurred.

Department for Transport fi gures for 2005 show that 13 people were killed and more than 400 injured in crashes involving drivers using hand-held mobile phones.

Since February the penalty for being caught using a hand-held mobile phone while driving has been increased to a £60 fixed penalty charge and three penalty points.

In 2004 a total of 74,000 fixed penalty notices were issued for illegal use of hand-held mobile phones. Ford's hands-free mobile phone solutions are fully integrated with the car's audio, navigation and entertainment systems. Phone, audio, climate control and navigation systems now all respond to voice command. Bluetooth technology completes the picture by providing wireless connectivity between mobile phones and the car.

Automatically-activated Bluetooth technology now covers most of the Ford range of vehicles, including the Fiesta, Fusion, Focus, Focus C-Max, S-Max, Mondeo, Galaxy and Transit.

Kevin Griffin, Ford's fleet operations director, said: "Research has shown that Bluetooth is both an effective road-safety technology and one that helps to prevent our customers from breaking the law. Our voice activation also allows Ford drivers to give spoken instructions to perform a number of different functions in the car, and that means less distraction on today's busy roads."

Fleets get duty of care message

The importance of having regularly updated at-work driving policies and procedures in place and ensuring that they are implemented by employees and contractors was underlined by Sgt Damien Finbow, head of the advanced driving wing of the Metropolitan Police Driving School at Hendon.

In addition, at four track days, fleet decision-makers had the chance to sample the vehicle dynamics and safety technologies displayed by Vauxhall VXRbadged cars and drive the new Vauxhall Antara and Chevrolet Captiva sports utility vehicles.

Ensures

The Metropolitan Police, which operates a fleet of around 6,000 vehicles, now ensures all new vehicles are equipped with life-saving electronic stability control (ESC) technology. It is an initiative that all fleets should follow, according to Sgt Finbow.

"The Met Police will not buy a car unless it has ESC and I believe no fleet operator should buy a car if it does not have that technology," he said.

Latest research by the Loughborough University Vehicle Safety Research Centre on behalf of the Department for Transport suggests that there would be 380 fewer fatal crashes on the UK's roads is all vehicles were ESC equipped.

While, ESC-equipped vehicles are 25% less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than those without, the technology has the potential to reduce vehicle skidding or overturning by up to 59% Former Road Safety Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman said: "I urge anyone thinking of buying a new car to consider the safety benefits that ESC could bring. I also call on manufacturers to fit this important piece of kit as standard more widely."

ESC is a computer-controlled technology which automatically controls vehicles by comparing the driver's steering and braking actions to what is actually happening. On-board sensors measure the speed, steering wheel angle, direction of travel and lateral acceleration of the vehicle. If the calculated path of travel is different to that dictated by the sensors it will make a correction by applying individual brakes to correct the deviation.

ESC is being promoted as the new 'must have' feature but, according to Paul Adler, General Motors UK fleet brand manager covering Vauxhall, Saab and Chevrolet, it is not equipment that companies or company car drivers are prepared to pay extra for.

"ESC may save your life, but it is not visible. There is a reluctance to pay for under the bonnet technology. Drivers want air conditioning and alloy wheels, which are visible," said Mr Adler.

Incumbent

However, said Sgt Finbow: "It is incumbent on every company to go as far as they can in terms of protecting their drivers and other road users. Budgetary constraint is not a defence in the event of someone being killed. It is our view that all vehicles should be fi tted with stability control."

It is for that reason that Vauxhall organised the track days to enable fleet operators to sample in a series of vehicle dynamics exercises the benefi ts of ESC and other safety-related features such as anti-lock brakes (ABS) and the manufacturer's suspension adjustment system - IDS2-Plus with continuous damping control - which reacts to adjustments in vehicle dynamics to maintain a smooth ride. By replicating the benefi ts of ESC in a safe environment, fleet operators will talk about the technology and their experiences and become ambassadors within their companies and their peer group. That will spread the word that ESC is an essential safety aid," explained Mr Adler.

"We want to position ourselves as the professional and responsible fleet manufacturer, which is helping fleet operators to implement best practice. By enabling so many fleet decisionmakers to experience the benefits of our safety systems I want them to go back to their businesses, revisit their existing policies, procedures and company car choice lists and see if safety improvements can be made.

"Managing occupational road risk is the single hottest issue for fleet operators. Fleets that do nothing to implement measures face the risk of police investigation and court action."

Ian Dykhoff, fleet manager of landfill engineering and land reclamation company Mouldings Contracts, which operates a fleet of about 50 vehicles, said: "I didn't realise the capabilities of ESC. Now I have tested cars with and without ESC I would recommend the technology."

Chichester-based United Marine Aggregates, which has a 38-strong fleet, specifies that all company cars, most of which have ESC, must have a four or five-star European New Car Assessment Programme crash test rating. Additionally, all company car drivers undergo driver awareness training every three years.

Support

The company's transport manager Stephen Hicks said: "I got support from the board in tightening up our policies and procedures. It is very important to get senior management backing."

Lee Davis, technical controller at Buckinghamshire-based The Puratos Group, operates a 45-car fleet. The company provides ingredients and tailormade solutions to the bakery, confectionery and chocolate market. He said: "We designate as many safety features as possible on our vehicles, including stability control. We are now looking at driver training."

Managers face close scrutiny

Fleet managers face close scrutiny in any prosecution under the new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, according to Sgt Damien Finbow, head of the advanced driving wing of the Metropolitan Police Driving School at Hendon.

"You must have control measures in place to give you and your company a reasonable defence in the event of any prosecution," warned Sgt Finbow, as he outlined the legislation. But legal experts have warned businesses that any serious road crash could continue to result in prosecutions under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act or Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 if enough evidence cannot be found to prosecute under the new law. The increased focus on prosecuting companies for their at-work driving road safety failings means that there is a greater likelihood of company decision makers and executives going to prison in the event of a fatality.

Sgt Finbow said: "An organisation will be guilty of corporate manslaughter if the way in which any of its activities are managed or organised by its senior managers causes a person's death.

"They only need to be contributory factors - not the salient issue. Companies must display a duty of care not just to their employees but also to their contractors and to customers."

Lawyers believe that the law now makes a prosecution for corporate manslaughter much easier and there could be many. It is believed that the recent rail disasters could have resulted in successful prosecutions.

And Sgt Finbow warned that previous company failings that may not have resulted in death and injury could be used as evidence to support a prosecution. Sgt Finbow urged fleet operators to particularly address the 'long hours culture' of business and to make sure that all vehicles and related equipment being used by staff were 'fit for purpose'.

Measuring and monitoring were the watchwords for businesses in terms of numerous issues including setting realistic work schedules, ensuring drivers undergo regular eyesight checks, having rules on the use of prescribed drugs and investigating the reasons for any driving incidents with changes implemented as a result of feedback.

"Fleet managers will be under scrutiny in any investigation which may result in a prosecution. Control measures must be in place to give fleet managers and their companies a reasonable defence in the event of any prosecution," said Sgt Finbow.

New Vauxhall models get ESC as standard

The Vauxhall Antara (pictured) is the manufacturer's newest car and like its sister vehicle, the Chevrolet Captiva, it has electronic stability control as standard.

Although stability control is not standard across the Vauxhall range, the technology is expected to be added as new models are launched or undergo significant facelifts.

The technology is standard on Vauxhall's VXR range of high performance road cars, which covers the recently launched Corsa VXR and soon to be launched 'musclecar' VXR8 as well as the Astra VXR, Meriva VXR, Zafira VXR and Vectra VXR.

VXR models also feature traction control along with uprated brakes and suspension and variably'assisted power steering, which alters the weight and feel of the wheel depending on the way in which the car is driven. Meanwhile, the new Antara, apart from ESC, also features intelligent four-wheel drive, a descent control system and steering wheel-mounted audio controls as standard. The range-topping SE additionally features a built-in Bluetooth phone kit, xenon headlamps, front and rear parking distance sensors and an on-board tyre pressure monitoring system.

The Captiva incorporates descent control, 4WD traction control and ESC as standard, while seven-seat models also get reverse parking sensors as standard.

Drivers shun safety for sexy gadgets

Ipod connectors, MP3 compatibility, automatic lights and windscreen wipers and satellite navigation equipment are all on the 'wanted' list of drivers, according to Terry Swanton, Mazda's national corporate sales manager.

Conversely, the number of 'serious requests' for information on fundamental safety features has dropped away to 'nearly nothing', Mr Swanton told delegates at an industry conference hosted by BusinessCar magazine in partnership with the Institute of Car Fleet Management and cosponsored by Mazda.

In addition, given the everincreasing rise in litigation and the fact that managing occupational road risk remains an agendatopping issue, Mr Swanton said he was bemused that in-built vehicle safety features were invariably overlooked in the purchase process. Delivering a speech entitled 'Duty of care - a manufacturer's perspective', Mr Swanton said the attitude of fleet operators and company car drivers was 'very strange' given that some of the key safety features offered signifi cant 'real world' benefits.

And, he argued, many of the 'under the skin' safety features now available 'compensated for indifferent or poor driving'.

He outlined a range of lifesaving technologies fitted as standard to many Mazda cars, which 'we strongly believe need to be brought back up the agenda and considered in a duty of care context'.

"Many of these technologies are a footnote abbreviation on most vehicle specification sheets but they all help make a vehicle safer," said Mr Swanton. "A vehicle fitted with a full suite of these systems, such as a Mazda6 TS2, provides a demonstrably better safety proposition than a vehicle without.

"All of these systems, good as they are, are almost invisible to the driver. They tend to sit well down the specifi cation list and thus get overridden by more fashionable requirements.

"However, all of the systems react to the behaviour of the car and endeavour to normalise the attitude of the vehicle and so they work for all styles of driving - and do that 100% of the time. It's irrelevant whether a driver is slow and erratic or fast and aggressive, these systems are constantly supporting them. They are essential safety features that accommodate the huge range of driving styles in any fleet and they can offer considerable peace of mind to fleet managers in the context of the duty of care regulations. But, with reducing the crash risk potential of at-work drivers a key issue confronting fleet decision-makers Mr Swanton said: "I believe that the provision of this level of specification demonstrates a real commitment to the principles of the everincreasing amount of duty of care legislation."

Delegates were also reminded of the importance of ensuring vehicles were equipped with a good ventilation and air conditioning system to help maintain driver alertness and, to choose vehicles equipped with steering wheel controls, such as for the in-car audio system, to minimise driver distraction.

"The very basic specification and layout of a vehicle is worth reviewing as there are huge variations between manufacturers. Fleet operators and drivers should carefully consider active and passive features when making company car choices and compare the offerings from various manufacturers," said Mr Swanton, pledging that Mazda built them into its core value-for-money proposition and, consequently, offered some of the safest vehicles on the road.

In the future more vehicles will be equipped with 'coming' technologies such as more intuitive and easy to access cabin controls, adaptive headlights, distance sensors, lane-changing avoidance and parking help systems and ultimately cars could become GPS controlled 'self drive'.

But, with some employees driving consistently at the outer boundaries of the law Mr Swanton said: "Invisible safety system provide support in all situations all of the time for all types of driver. More people must be made aware of their effectiveness."

How a car's life-saving systems work

Life-saving in-vehicle features can be divided into 'passive' and 'active' with the former designed to react following a crash and the latter aimed at preventing an incident by reacting to driver steering wheel input and road conditions to maintain car stability.

Some seatbelts feature pre-tensioners that 'pop', similar to airbags, in the event of a crash. They take the slack out of a seatbelt in milliseconds prior to the driver/passengers putting pressure on it.

All Mazda vehicles are developed around the 'Mazda Advanced Impact Distribution and Absorption System', which is designed to create a safety cell for occupants and minimise injury. The technology works similar to a roll cage in a racing car.

Millions of pounds are spent by Mazda in researching, developing and producing cars which, while being 'drivers' cars' possess the dynamics that mean they are predictable to drive and responsive in an emergency situation. Underpinning the sports characteristics of Mazda cars are a variety of active safety systems led by anti-lock brakes (ABS), which is now mandatory, and along with related technologies is designed to continually respond to driver input and road conditions.

Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) speeds up the application of the brakes in an emergency with sensors monitoring the amount of foot pressure applied and increasing it as necessary. The system works through the ABS technology which is working to help drivers steer and then come to a controlled stop.

Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), which also works through the ABS system, diverts the most braking pressure to the wheels with the most grip. This not only improves stopping distance but also increases the stability of the car by reducing the chances of the rear end sliding and potentially spinning.

Traction Control System (TCS) uses the wheel sensors to determine variations in wheel speed. If one or more of the driving wheels is losing grip the system reduces the power to that wheel(s) and offers it to the other driven wheels with more grip.

Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) - it is also known by a variety of other names including electronic stability control. A major pan-European campaign to promote business and consumer awareness of the technology - 'Choose ESC!' - has been launched by eSafety Aware!, an organisation supported by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) Foundation, European Commission and the European New Car Assessment Programme. Further details at www.eSafetyAware.eu.

The technology uses the ABS system to control the brakes to prevent skidding.

At least 40% of fatal road accidents are the result of skidding and studies show that stability control could reduce skidding accidents by up to 80%.

New Lexus LS 600h hybrid is a safety tour de force

Lexus says the new hybrid is packed with an array of more sophisticated preventive, active and passive safety features than any car in its class. The car features a rear pre-crash safety system and a driver monitoring system, aimed at initially sensing that the vehicle is about to be involved in a crash and then taking evasive action milliseconds before impact. The rear pre-crash safety system, with a radar that senses when a following vehicle is about to collide with the Lexus, automatically adjusts the front headrests to provide the best protection against whiplash injury, before impact. Additionally, an obstacle detection system scans the road ahead by a radar and infra-red camera to warn of any potential collision with another vehicle or pedestrian, day or night at a range of up to 25 metres, while another camera follows the driver's head movement and triggers an alert if eyes are not looking ahead when a collision risk is detected. When there is a high probability of a collision, an alarm will prompt the driver to take evasive action. If there is no avoiding an impact, the brakes, front seatbelts and suspension are all primed to deliver peak performance and minimise damage to occupants.

Meanwhile, the driver monitoring system sees a miniature camera on the steering column constantly tracks the movement of the driver's face. If an obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle when the driver is not looking ahead, the pre-crash alarm function will be triggered, and gentle braking applied to alert the driver. Emergency steering assist improves the vehicle's response to driver steering input, selecting the best gear ratio for rapid evasion manoeuvres and increasing the chances of avoiding a collision.

Following its debut on the LS 460, the hybrid becomes only the second car in the world to be equipped with LED technology for low beam headlight illumination.

Aston Martin

They set off from Tokyo in June at the wheel of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, with their satellite navigation set for London's Trafalgar Square, where they are due to arrive in August. They are aiming to become the first people in the world to cross the full extent of the Asia- Pacific Highway. Their 10,000-mile journey in the factory-prepared V8 Vantage will take them through 16 countries, including South Korea and China.

Teacher Richard Meredith, from Newport Pagnell, and co-driver travel specialist and tour operator Phil Colley, from London, are undertaking the journey in collaboration with the United Nations. They are promoting the UNbacked 'Road Safety is No Accident' and the 'Make Roads Safe' campaigns.

The project can be tracked through a micro-site available at www.astonmartin.com

Active headrests for new BMW 6-series

Standard fit on cars, the system has been introduced to prevent occupants from whiplash injuries in rear end accidents. The technology will appear on other models in the BMW product portfolio shortly.

When the airbags' central control unit registers a rear end collision pyrotechnics fire to release two springs in the head rests. These then rapidly push the front of the restraint forward by 6cms and upwards by 4cms, reducing risk to the driver and front seat passenger of serious neck injury.

BMW's moves comes as Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, claims that more than 125,000 drivers and passengers in the UK could be being injured in crashes annually because they have not adjusted their head restraint properly.

Figures show that the majority of car seats now offer protection in the event of a rear end impact ' with 80% of new European vehicles rated as 'good' or 'acceptable' in a Thatcham survey.

While vehicle manufacturers have responded to the whiplash concerns of Thatcham by improving head rest technology, more than 63% of drivers have their head restraint set in the wrong position, making them vulnerable to injury.

A total of 250,000 UK motorists receive whiplash injuries each year ' with 25,000 suffering some form of permanent disability.

Matthew Avery, Thatcham's crash laboratory manager, said: "The manufacturers are doing their bit - now the public has got to wake up to whiplash. The head restraint should be seen as every bit as important as the seatbelt - yet some people seem oblivious as to how to use it properly." Thatcham says that the top of the head restraint should be level with or above the top of the head and as close to the back of the head as possible.

The Thatcham survey of 1,400 drivers and their vehicles showed that only 25% of men and 43% of women had their head restraint in the correct position.

"These figures are shocking. If people are made aware of the risks they are running they would take a few seconds to adjust their restraint in the correct position," said Mr Avery.

Park Assist first for Volkswagen Tiguan

Additionally, completely new electronic systems also simplify off road driving in the Tiguan. The SUV uses a network of assistance systems with the name of 'Offroad Mode'. With one touch of a switch the driver activates a whole armada of safety features, supporting a multitude of situations.

The technology will be offered exclusively on the Tiguan 'Track & Field' and, says Volkswagen, will improve off road vehicle handling significantly.

The initial idea behind the 'Offroad Mode' was that all key off road support functions should be activated by a central user control. Specifi cally, one switch activates the 'hill descent assistant' (for optimal control on slopes), 'adaptation of driver's pedal characteristic' (for finer gradations of torque), 'EDS adaptation' (electronic differential locks are activated at the slightest slip), 'ABS adaptation' (improved braking action on loose road materials), 'hill climb assist' (support when climbing and protection of the clutch) and - in conjunction with automatic transmission - 'gear preselect' (including optimal engine braking action). These numerous functions involve up to five electronic control units (ECUs) that manage the systems.

Just how 'intelligently' the electronics react is demonstrated by considering an off road driving situation that is not all that uncommon - an engine stall can even happen to professional drivers offroad. This deactivates the 'Offroad Mode', and assistance systems are turned off.

But the electronics of the Tiguan detects this as a 'stall' and when the engine is restarted all off road assistance systems are up and running again immediately.

Safety guide

The guide highlights:

• The importance of children and babies travelling in child booster seats
• The importance of pregnant women wearing seatbelts and dispelling the myth that their use may harm the baby
• The importance of children travelling in rear-facing car seats until they are at least three or four-years-old. According to Volvo's investigations, a forward facing child seat provides around 80% better protection than if no child restraints are used, whereas a child in a rear-facing seat is approximately 90% less likely to be seriously injured in an accident.
• The importance of the seat belt being fitted across the body's stronger area such as the upper torso and pelvis - protecting the weaker parts of the body such as the abdomen. A booster seat gives a child an increased height and directs the safety belt over the stronger parts of the body during a crash.

Volvo has created a microsite dedicated to child safety information which includes short video guides and practical tips for parents and parents-to-be, as well as a free downloadable 'Children in Cars' booklet. The site can be accessed at www.volvocars.co.uk/childsafety. A hard copy of the 'Children In Cars guide 1' can be obtained by calling the Volvo Information Centre on 0800 400430. All Volvo models have ISOFIX attachments as standard and all Volvo saloon, estate and cross country models offer integrated booster seats. The new V70 and XC70 estate models feature Volvo's latest innovation, a new dual stage integrated child booster seat, with two height positions ideal for growing families.

Young driver initiative

The Peugeot Young Driver of the Year competition will be an annual award over the next three years aimed at helping youngsters between 17-21 years of age living in the region become safer, more skilled drivers. The winner will receive the keys to a brand new Peugeot 1007 for a year.

Currently around 1,000 young lives are lost every year on UK roads and Peugeot has teamed up with Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council Road Safety teams and the Institute of Advanced Motorists to help cut the carnage.

Peugeot's managing director, Pierre Louis Colin said: "As a major local employer, Peugeot is committed to improving safety amongst our younger population. If this initiative prevents one accident or serious injury it will be worth our three-year investment in younger drivers."

Christopher Bullock, chief executive of the Institute of Advanced Motorists said: "This Peugeot initiative is aimed squarely at younger drivers, who are most at risk when they first get behind the wheel.

"We congratulate Peugeot and are very pleased to be part of the competition team."

Hyundai

Other key safety features across the i30 range include active front head restraints to reduce the risk of whiplash injury, passenger, driver and full length curtain airbags, passenger airbag deactivation switch, front and rear seatbelt reminder system, seatbelt pretensioners and ISOfix childseat fixing points in the rear.

Toyota promotes life-saving skills

Throughout the summer, local British Red Cross staff and volunteers will visit schools and hold free public road shows in shopping centres, theme parks, town squares and festivals, where children and young people will have the opportunity to learn how to stay safe and basic life saving skills. 'Don't be a Bystander' is in its third and final year, which, by the end of summer 2007, will have trained over 250,000 young people with first aid skills.

To celebrate this, Toyota has designed a special, one off version of its Aygo car. The 'Aygo Safely', designed in the style of a distinctive first aid box, will be travelling the country and appearing at road shows this summer to help raise awareness of the campaign.

The campaign is backed by BBC Television 'Blue Peter' presenter Konnie Huq, a Red Cross ambassador, who said: "We want to encourage as many young people as possible to act at the scene of a road crash and use their basic first aid knowledge to help save lives."

Toyota marketing director, Mark Hall said: "Toyota is committed to minimising accidents and injuries and we constantly improve the safety features of our vehicles. This British Red Cross campaign complements that effort by recognising the importance of basic first aid skills should an incident occur."

Further information at www.redcross.org.uk/roadsafety.

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