Life Saving Car Testing celebrates 20th anniversary

2 February 2017

As Euro NCAP celebrates its 20th anniversary we should acknowledge its contribution to saving 182,000 killed and seriously injured car occupants in the UK since car testing began in 1997:

Thatcham Research is marking the 20th anniversary by urging consumers to further boost Britain’s road safety record by making a commitment to buy only models with a five star Euro NCAP rating and a collision avoidance technology like AEB and Lane Assist systems. They also called on manufacturers to make AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) standard fitment, to prevent thousands of accidents.

Thatcham estimates that if AEB that can sense pedestrians and cyclists became standard on every new car sold in the UK, it would save 2,700 pedestrian and cyclist deaths and serious injuries every year. Over 20 years, this would mean 54,000 fewer.

It should be noted that:

• UK car occupant deaths and injuries down by 63 per cent over 20 years
• Cars ‘safest ever’ with 9 out of 10 cars sold on the European market holding a Euro NCAP rating
• 2,700 deaths and serious injuries in the UK could be saved every year if AEB that can sense both pedestrians and cyclists became standard on every new car
• Consumers urged to ONLY buy Euro NCAP Five Star-rated cars with collision avoidance technology like AEB and Lane Assist systems
• New tests in 2018 to address lane control, pedestrian night-time safety, junction crashes and cyclist protection
• MORE than 182,000 killed and serious injuries have been saved on UK roads since revolutionary Euro NCAP car safety tests were launched 20 years ago. This equates to 15,000 per annum.

EuroNCAP was winner of the Premier Prince Michael International Award in 2003

Further explanation is here.