EuroNCAP marks its 20th anniversary of crash-testing cars for safety

The year is 1997.  People are asking how cars can be made safer, to lessen the risk of injury and/or death when involved in a crash.  The Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) is created, which takes production cars and submits these through a series of crash tests, which are then assessed and given a star rating.

Now, in 2017, Euro NCAP marks its 20th anniversary, and no doubt with many thousands of lives saved and injuries spared.

Euro NCAP has to date crash-tested 1800 cars, with over 630 safety ratings issued.

20 years on, 9 out of 10 cars sold on the European market hold a Euro NCAP rating, and the motor industry actively supports the development of new requirements for the top safety ratings.  Car manufacturers often state their cars’ Euro NCAP safety rating.

Euro NCAP made cars safer

Today, the results of crash tests of 2 comparable family cars built 20 years apart underline the huge advances in vehicle safety since 1997.  Safety technologies that were non-existent or optional at most – driver and passenger airbags, side protection airbags, belt reminders and electronic stability control – are now standard on all new cars sold in Europe.

“We are very proud - as we mark 20 years at the forefront of road safety – that Euro NCAP’s programme of safety tests has achieved major, life-saving improvements in cars and has helped Europe reach the lowest road fatality rate for any region in the world.” said Secretary General, Michiel van Ratingen.

“Euro NCAP has given millions of consumers the knowledge and confidence to choose the safest cars possible. Recent years have shown a slowdown in the progress rate, however, so we mustn’t take our foot off the gas. We want to ensure that Europe’s roads get even safer in the next 20 years, not just for car occupants but for all participants in traffic. We already test many more aspects of a car’s safety than we did when we started in 1997, and that is set to continue. Next year, we will test systems that recognise and avoid crashes with cyclists, and we’re lining up a very challenging roadmap for 2020 to 2025.”

First round of tests

Backed by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), ICRT (formerly named International Testing), the UK and Swedish Governments, the first Euro NCAP crash test results were revealed on 4th February 1997. Until then, car makers only had to meet basic legislative crash test requirements for new cars, the results of which were not published. It was impossible for consumers to compare the safety of one car with another.

Euro NCAP’s programme was the first time that realistic, like-for-like tests had been conducted in Europe by independent experts, and the results sparked outrage from consumer groups, members of the public and the media.

In the first round of tests, of seven popular supermini-sized cars, 2 of the most popular hatchbacks each achieved 3 stars out of the then-maximum of 4, based on protection levels offered to adult occupants.  Another top-selling compact hatch achieved only 1 star.

The first batch of tests exposed safety failings in top-selling family cars, forcing a fundamental rethink in the way cars were designed to prevent accidents, to save lives.

Leading car manufacturers attacked the tests, claiming they were so severe that it was ‘impossible’ for a car to achieve four stars. Five months later, however, the Volvo S40 became the first 4-star car (rating out of 4) for occupant protection.

NCAP for the world – safest cars ever

“The consumer awareness model deployed so effectively by Euro NCAP has not just fundamentally changed the European market, it has helped to catalyse other NCAPs across the world in middle and low income countries. Consumer pressure informed by crash tests is helping to make rapid changes in levels of safety in India, Latin America and the ASEAN region. Euro NCAP has truly had a global impact, a proud road safety legacy that has saved countless lives.”

Euro NCAP President and Thatcham Chief Technical Officer, Andrew Miller: “The impact of these tests cannot be overstated. Until Euro NCAP, consumers only had the manufacturers’ word for it. Now we have the safest cars ever and the safety levels of each car are there for all to see. This success could only be achieved by actively working together in Europe under one umbrella and by continuing to invest in better safety.”

Euro NCAP tests have become ever more demanding and cars can now achieve a maximum of five stars, awarded not just for how they protect occupants and pedestrians in a collision, but on the car’s ability to avoid a crash in the first place. The tests represent real-life accident scenarios that could result in the death or injury. Top achievers must demonstrate that their cars are fitted as standard with technology that avoids or mitigates such crashes and, where a crash is not avoidable, adequate protection is offered to car occupants and other road users.

Note!

Worth noting is that cars assessed by Euro NCAP are not necessarily the same specification as cars you can buy in South Africa!  The aforementioned standard airbags and electronic stability control are mandatory standard safety equipment for new cars sold in Europe, but for SA there are some cars (yes, even with the same name and other similarities) which have a lower safety specification here, so will not have the same Euro NCAP safety star-rating as cars sold in Europe.