EuroNCAP

The governments in most countries have some formof regulations covering vehicle safety. These regula-tions are aimed at giving both the occupants of thevehicle protection in the case of an accident, andensuring that pedestrians and cyclists are not subjectto unnecessary injury if they come into contactwith a car. The regulations are in most cases veryminimal. In the UK the Department for Transport(DfT) works with a number of bodies on vehiclesafety, much of the DfT work is sub-contractedto Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) Ltd –formerly a wholly government funded institution. InAmerica there is the United States Department ofTransportation (DOT). There is also the EEVC(European Enhanced Vehicle-safety Committee).
The most pro-active of vehicle safety organisa-tions is EuroNCAP. The full title is European NewCar Assessment Programme. This programme isjointly funded and supported by it members whichincludes:
. Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club e V(ADAC), motoring organisation – Germany
. Bundesministerium fur Verker, Bau- undWohnugswesen, government department –Germany
. Department for Transport (DfT), government department – UK
. Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, government department –Holland
. European Commission – Belgium
. FIA Foundation for the Automobile andSociety, motoring organisation – UK
. Government of Catalonia, government department – Spain
. International Consumer Research and Testing,consumer group – UK
. Ministere de l’Equipment, government department – France
. Swedish Road Administration, government department – Sweden
. Thatcham – representing British Motor Insurers – GB
EuroNCAP have a number of tests which vehicles are subjected to, the results of the tests arethen subjected to a number of calculations whichlead to star ratings. Basically the more stars thesafer the vehicle (Figure 1.28). The tests appearsimple; but the recording of results is quite com-plex. Each test has a 50-page operating manual.Readings are taken from the dummies inside thevehicles as well as the photographs of the vehicleas it deforms under impact. The dummies containelectrical sensing equipment, mainly measuringacceleration rates. Each dummy costs the sameamount of money as a super car such as a Ferrari.
The EuroNCAP tests are designed to encourage vehicle manufacturers to consider safety standardsabove and beyond those required by the govern-ment regulations.

 EuroNCAP have a number of tests,include: