BETTER PARTS20 years of EuroNCAP: Scrap for the security
Brussels (Belgium), 2nd February 2017
The pictures scare to date: In 1997, the EuroNCAP test organization conducted their first crash tests. A total of seven small cars are cold rolled. Especially the result of popular at that time in the UK, the Rover 100 frightened, because the car crumpled together like a sheet of paper.
Tremendous progress
To demonstrate the since then progress in vehicle safety, EuroNCAP has driven a Rover 100 and to a current Honda Jazz against the wall again. Again, the Rover is barely above room life. However, its basic structure has its roots in the late 1970s. Until 1997, automakers had to although basic requirements in terms of impact safety, but not publish them. In addition to this aspect of the EuroNCAP aim was, to create a rating system, so that customers could compare.
Impossible made possible
To start four stars for occupant safety awarded were maximum the Ford Fiesta and the VW at the time only three managed Polo. The automaker switched to attack mode, and claimed that the strict criteria made it impossible for a four star rating. Five months later, the Volvo S40 scored for the first time this rating.
Protection of cyclists from 2018
Today you arrive at five stars, which quite often be achieved and are exploited by the manufacturers for advertising. One criticism is focusing in the awarding of the star now away from the occupant and pedestrian protection towards systems that avoid the impact from the outset or at least mitigate. So should be tested from 2018 also systems, identify the cyclists and prevent accidents with you.
How meaningful are the stars?
Certainly it is honorable to include also the environment of the car. But distort the pure Star (who only see most buyers): so a vehicle can get only three stars because lack of assistance systems. The inmates are still well protected. So worse look at low-cost cars, where assistance systems are disproportionately expensive, than they actually are. Maybe it will be after 20 years for a new star. (rh)