NCAP to readjust scoring system to boost pedestrian protection
Author: Robin Brown
Published: 27 August 2008
European safety testing body Euro NCAP has slammed manufacturers for disregarding pedestrian protection in new models and says it will overhaul its rating system in 2009 to take account of this.
Of the five cars tested in the latest round of safety scoring not one model achieved a higher rating than two stars out of four - a situation reflected across the board, with 67 per cent of models tested last year achieving this mark. NCAP has long bemoaned the lack of success of manufacturers in this area.
Only the Citroen C6 achieved a four star result in pedestrian protection in 2005, the French manufacturer is the only car-maker to be awarded 4 stars in this rating.
NCAP says it will readjust its scoring system will reflect the protection offered to adult and child occupants as well as pedestrian protection and safety assist items such as Electronic Stability Control.
Currently there are three different scores for adult occupant protection, child occupant protection and pedestrian protection.
The safety testing body says that it believes that manufacturers are tempting buyers with claims of occupant protection, but thinks car buyers are also interested in protecting pedestrians.
NCAP believes manufacturers will rise to the challenge of improving pedestrian protection in the same way that they did when faced with the challenge of uprating occupant protection to a maximum five stars - a feat that seemed impossible in 1997.
Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP says "I am delighted that more and more manufacturers are achieving five stars in our crash-tests, but it is imperative that Euro NCAP continues to set higher benchmarks for car makers to aspire to.
"Our new rating system will do this. I have no doubt that manufacturers will step up to the challenge, just as they did when we first started. The creation of new technologies means enhanced safety performance and a potential reduction of fatalities on our roads. We intend to reward those manufacturers that make this their ultimate goal."
The first results for vehicles tested under this new rating system will be released in February 2009.
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