This paper reports the status of a consumer protection programme set up by European automobile clubs in the mid 1980s. European accident statistics are considered: increasing mileage means that car safety must be continually improved to reduce numbers of fatalities; seat belt usage could be improved in some countries; most fatalities occur in front collisions, although rear-impact safety improvement is needed because of the cost of whiplash injuries. The EuroNCAP crash testing procedures provide an excellent programme for reliable consumer protection information, efficient furthering of improvements and safety priorities: however, they only simulate a car-to-car crash between cars of the same weight: there is a problem of compatibility which makes a larger car safer in a collision and highlights the need to increase the compartment stiffness of smaller cars. Child fatalities are mostly caused by side impact, which are not adequately covered by current child restraints. Airbags still cause problems for car users in some circumstances and better sensors are required.
Abstract