The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a resource for consumers regarding vehicle crash safety. The programme also promotes safety developments, and credits car manufacturers focusing on safety. This study is based on real life car to car crashes. The study shows that the overall indication of the safety level, provided by crash testing, is a valid prediction, at least when looking at the star rating and severe to fatal injuries. For minor injuries no significant injury risk differences are found. The cars with three or four stars are approximately 30% safer, compared to two star cars or cars without an Euro NCAP score, in car to car collisions. The good general correlation between injury risk, and Euro NCAP scores is not necessarily similarly good for individual car models. Pedestrian safety and child occupant protection was not studied. (A)
Abstract