It’s not something anyone would want to do. However, it is comforting to know our vehicle has the necessary safety features in case this happens.
And it’s up to laboratory tests and crash test dummies — which cost hundreds of thousands of pounds each and are stuffed with sensors — to keep you and your loved ones safe in the event of an accident on the road.
High-tech guinea monkeys are used to test the safety of human drivers, pedestrians and passengers in real vehicles.
Packed with features: Skoda’s Enyaq iV Sportline 80 was one of the safest cars tested by EuroNCAP so far this year
The Big Bang
The programme of independent crash-testing arrived in the UK a quarter of a century ago in 1996 — with the first results published in February 1997.
And next week, the results of a final round of about a dozen crash tests for 2021 are published — and while likely to delight some car-makers whose vehicles perform well, they are expected to make uncomfortable reading for others.
The European New Car Assessment Programme — called more commonly EuroNCAP — has shone a light on the key issue of car safety and has given consumers a simple-to-read five-star rating by which to judge how safe their and other vehicles are.
Of the cars tested this year, the Subaru Outback (from £33,995) is the highest rated ‘across the board’ among the top five-star vehicles.
The first published UK and European tests in 1997 caused a stir when the popular Rover 100 was given an infamous one-star rating out of a then maximum four — at a time when a zero rating didn’t exist.
Initial resistance was received by car makers who claimed that their in-house standards were not sufficient. EuroNCAP ratings soon took hold, and those who were successful began to claim ‘bragging right’ to promote how safe their vehicles were.
Contrarily, people who are doing poorly were made to feel ashamed and encouraged to raise their game.
Publishing the test results —alongside dramatic photographs and videos of the tests in progress and their aftermath — had a great impact. You risk selling if you score poorly. Do your homework and you will be amazed at the number of cars that leave the showrooms.
Slowing down
The UK and other European nations established EuroNCAP in the 1990s. Initial tests were carried out in Britain by Transport Research Laboratory, supported by Department for Transport.
Thatcham Research was a EuroNCAP member in 2004. It now represents the UK and conducts research that has led to whiplash testing being introduced in 2009.
The tests included active safety systems, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Autonomous Emergency Brakings (AEB), Lane-keeping assistance and Lane Depart Warning in 2014.
The new tests now include AEB systems with improved detection and prevention of crashes with scooters and motorbikes. They also monitor drivers to detect signs such as drowsiness and distraction.
Crash Course: Subaru Outback’s EuroNCAP safety testing in a head on collision
Over a quarter century, Euro NCAP has assessed about 900 vehicle models, of which Thatcham Research in Berkshire has tested about 40 models — crashing 150 individual cars — since becoming an accredited EuroNCAP test facility in 2012.
Crash testing usually takes two weeks. Self-braking tests are also performed in the middle and late hours of the night in order to test how cars recognize pedestrians in darkness.
To ensure that the vehicles perform well, inspectors analyze the massive amounts of video and data.
EuroNCAP is a voluntary program, but EuroNCAP testers can test cars by buying them on the open marketplace if they are not willing to buy from manufacturers.
EuroNCAP spokesperson said that it was established to provide independent ratings beyond safety laws. So consumers can make educated decisions about buying new cars.
It has been tested and passed the test
Fiat was notoriously caught in 2017 when their Punto model received ‘zero star’, despite having achieved a highest grade of 5 stars five years before.
Fiat did not make any safety improvements during that period, and they didn’t even offer side airbags. Similar reasons prompted Fiat to reassess the Fiat Panda in 2018.
The budget £7,995 Dacia Sandero was also recently stripped of its What Car? Car of the year award was later rescinded after it scored just two stars from five for its inability to provide emergency brake systems during crash tests. (This would have been a four-star rating).
Safety for pedestrians, child cyclists and pedestrians is also important. The vehicle’s star score can only be determined by the lowest test scores.
The new test reproduces the effects of vehicles colliding of different sizes to see if the larger off-roader does not protect its occupants at all.
It is encouraging to see that results for 2020/21 show many top five-star cars having scores exceeding 90 percent adult protection and over 80 percent child, pedestrian, and safety assist.
While it may look dramatic to see cars colliding on each other, this is what these pictures are intended to show. To dissipate the most energy from cars before it reaches its occupants, they are designed with “crumple zones”.
Experts believe that there have been more than 182,000 injuries and deaths on UK roads after EuroNCAP was introduced.
From 14,500 cyclists who were killed in 1997, to 8,500 in 2015, the number of pedestrians or bicyclists seriously hurt has dropped from 14.500 in 1997. The annual number of deaths on UK roads between 1997 and 2017 was halved, from 3,599 to 1,793.
- Check your own or prospective car’s crash-test safety rating at: euroncap.com/en/ratings-rewards
Owners of electric cars feel the effects of an economic slump on their charging
Demand: Between 2019 and 2020, the number of cars that share each public charging-point increased from 11 to 16.
‘We’ve sorted out building the electric cars for you — now do your bit to help keep pace with sufficient public on-street charge points’.
That was the overall message sent by UK car manufacturers to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, and the Government this week.
Car-makers have made the switch to electric vehicles after becoming frustrated by ministers’ bluster about banning diesel and petrol cars starting in 2030.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has revealed that nearly a third of all hybrid and battery-electric vehicles were required to share each public charge point last year.
In 2019, the average number of cars that shared each public charger-point increased by 16 to 11, compared with 11 in 2020.
This meant that one charging station is required for each 52 newly registered electric cars.
According to the report, Britain’s ratio of electric vehicles and standard public charging has declined to 16:1. This makes it one of the most dangerous of all the top 10 global markets for plug-in cars.
London, UK has the highest ratio of chargers to cars at 10:1. This is down from 5:1 in 2019.
East of England is the least populated with only one public standard charger per 49 vehicles. Wales has a higher ratio than the average national rate of 12:1, while Scotland is at 17:1.
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