Trust but Verify

16 May 2018

In a speech by David Ward, Secretary General of the Global New Car Assessment Programme at the FT Future of the Car Conference in London, he explained how in the field of vehicle safety New Car Assessment Programmes (NCAPs) have played a watchdog role. He emphasised how NCAPs also help to build a market for safety, giving manufacturers the incentive to offer levels of safety performance that far exceed minimum regulatory standards.

He cited Euro NCAP which was established 21 years ago and how today 87% of new models have a safety rating. Of these, 79% achieve the maximum five stars. The combination of EU minimum crash test standards enforced since 1998 and Euro NCAP had led to a 50% drop in vehicle occupant deaths saving over 78,000 lives.

He went on to say, "In April 2018 UN General Assembly also called on Member States 'to implement UN vehicle safety regulations or equivalent national standards to ensure that all new motor vehicles meet applicable minimum regulations for the protection of occupants and other road users, with seat belts, airbags, and active safety systems fitted as standard.

David Ward emphasised that Global NCAP strongly welcomed this recommendation and the encouragement of member States to participate in the UN’s World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations at the UN Economic Commission for Europe in Geneva.

Global NCAP was winner of the Prince Michael International Premier Award in 2016 and Euro NCAP was the winner in 2003 .

The full speech is available here.