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ESB Safe Driving Bureau
How does your car rate?
When you're thinking of buying a new car, you probably think, looks, seating, engine size and colour but do you ever think Euro NCAP?What Is Euro NCAP?
Euro NCAP provides you with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe. Established in 1997 and backed by five European Governments, the European Commission as well as motoring and consumer organisations in every EU country, Euro NCAP has become a catalyst for significant safety improvements in car design.
What Type of Vehicles Does It Test?
Euro NCAP's crashworthiness testing includes six classes of car: Superminis; small family cars; large family cars; executive cars; roadsters; large off-roaders; small off-roaders and small MPVs. What Test is performed? There is a frontal impact test at 64 km/h into an offset deformable barrier, a side impact test at 50 km/h, a side impact pole test at 29 km/h and tests with pedestrian head and leg forms at 40 km/h.
How is the Injury Risk to Car Occupants Determined?
The injury risk is assessed using a number of sources including data from the dummy's instruments, examination of the high-speed film and examination of the car by crash investigation experts. Adjustments are also made to take account of other potential dangers, including those to different sized occupants. The Euro NCAP assessment protocol is then applied to arrive at the rating for each body region.
Where are the Crash Tests performed?
Euro NCAP tests are performed by six laboratories around Europe. These include one based in France (UTAC in Montlhery), two based in Germany (ADAC in Munich and BAST in Bergisch Gladback), one in the Netherlands (TNO in Delft), one in Spain (IDIADA in Tarragona) and one in the UK (TRL in Berkshire).
Which of the Cars Tested is the Safest?
When buying a new car, Euro NCAP advises that two ratings in particular (adult and pedestrian protection) are taken into consideration. It's an idea to also consider Euro NCAP's child protection rating, if you are planning to travel with young children. For adult occupant protection a five-star performance (out of a possible five) in the tests is the most impressive. The safest car for pedestrian protection has achieved four stars (out of a possible four).
How Do I Find Out the Rating for My Car?
For more information and specific car ratings go to www.euroncap.com
Did You Know?
Our very own ESB EM motoring correspondent, Dave Walshe, always lists the Euro NCAP rating of the vehicles he's reviewing at the end of his monthly column. Take a look! Information and image courtesy of Euro NCAP www.euroncap.com
