News - Page 4
A major new study for the European Commission has found considerable potential safety benefits and low costs for the installation of Electronic Data Recorders (EDRs) in cars, vans and lorries. The research, carried out by TRL in the UK, found that EDRs are already fitted to almost all new cars in Europe, and have been for some years. The systems are generally linked to the control units used to deploy airbags in the event of a collision. Most meet the minimum specification set by […]
by Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director Amidst the screaming headlines surrounding the possibility of an outbreak of Ebola in Europe over the last few weeks, I can’t help but question our society’s perception of risk. Less than a handful of people have died from Ebola in Europe and those that tragically have were all medical staff in direct contact with sufferers. The WHO maintains that a major outbreak in Western Europe is ‘unlikely’. But every week in Europe, on average, 500 people die on our […]
A new study by researchers at Loughborough University shows how blind spots in HGVs could be significantly reduced with a modified cab design that takes advantage of proposed new EU rules on lorry dimensions. The Loughborough team’s design would have an 80cm longer cab with a rounded nose, smaller dashboard, expanded glazed areas and a slightly lower driver position, panoramically expanding the range of sight from behind the wheel. The study included analysis of data covering 1,906 UK accidents involving HGVs to ascertain the […]
ETSC has written to the president-designate of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker following early indications that transport safety could be deprioritised by the new Commission. The letter was a response to a six-page ‘mission letter’ sent by Mr Juncker to Maroš Šefčovič, who is set to become the new EU transport policy chief replacing Siim Kallas. In the mission letter, which was published on the Commission website, Mr Juncker only mentioned safety in passing, and only in very vague terms. The topic was not mentioned […]
ETSC is calling for Automated Emergency Braking systems to be fitted as standard on new cars in the EU. The technology, which is already available as an optional extra even on low-cost vehicles, has been described by one leading UK vehicle safety expert as potentially ‘as important a breakthrough as the seatbelt’. Peter Shaw, chief executive of Thatcham Research, the UK insurance industry’s research centre, made the comments to What Car? Magazine, while also calling for government subsidies for buyers who opt for an […]
Self-driving vehicles will be soon start appearing on British roads with the UK government set to approve limited trials. The UK government announced plans in July for new measures that give the green light for driverless cars to take to the roads from January 2015. British cities can bid for a share of a £10 million competition to host a driverless cars trial. The government is calling on cities to join together with businesses and research organisations to put forward proposals to become a test […]
Euro NCAP has warned that the budget car trend being driven by Europe’s economic stagnation could lead to a ‘two-tier’ market for road safety in Europe as the latest technologies are made available only on top-spec or premium models. In a report setting out the organisation’s long term strategy to 2020, Euro NCAP also highlights rising sales of quadricycles as another challenge that needs to be addressed. Euro NCAP published a disturbing set of crash test results for quadricylces for the first time last […]
EU member states have dealt a blow to plans to allow lorry makers to sell safer vehicles. Transport ministers meeting today agreed that European Commission proposals to enable, not require, manufacturers to make changes to lorry cabs that improve visibility and reduce the impact of crashes on other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists should be subject to an eight-year delay. The position of transport ministers is at odds with the European Parliament, which said in April that safer cab designs should be permitted with no […]
Four car-like vehicles classed as ‘quadricycles’ have performed poorly in tests carried out by the vehicle safety organisation EuroNCAP with some showing serious risks of life threatening injuries. Quadricycles are a new class of sub-compact vehicle that has emerged in Europe in recent years. Although street-legal, quadricycles do not have to pass any of the rigorous crash tests to which cars are subjected. The tested models were the Club Car Villager 2+2 LSV, the Renault Twizy 80, the Tazzari ZERO and the Ligier IXO […]
UK insurance companies have said mandatory fitting of automated emergency braking systems (AEB) in new cars could save 1220 lives in the UK over ten years. The systems, which variously use lasers, radar or video cameras to activate the brakes and automatically stop a car when an imminent collision is detected, were described as ‘the new seatbelt’ by Matthew Avery, director of research at the UK insurance industry’s research centre. The technology is already available as an optional extra on a number of new […]
A survey by ETSC of the main political groups in the European Parliament ahead of this month’s elections has found universal support for measures to cut deaths and the more than 300,000 serious injuries that occur on Europe’s roads each year. But the research also revealed differences across the political spectrum on which road safety measures should be introduced at the European level. ETSC welcomed the support for concrete measures to cut serious injuries, which have been falling at a slower rate than deaths. The […]
Seat-belt reminder alerts in all car seats could save 900 lives a year Spain and Latvia make biggest progress in cutting car deaths Transport safety campaigners are calling on the European Union to accelerate progress on reducing the number of people killed in cars every year in the EU, as new research shows 12,345 car occupants were fatally injured in 2012. The report into trends in car occupant safety, published today by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), found that 900 lives could be […]
The European Parliament has voted to support revised rules on the dimensions of heavy goods vehicles that will enable manufacturers to produce safer lorries. The legislation will allow for cabs with improved visibility, especially important for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas. Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said: “This legislation is a step forward because it will enable innovative new designs that include crumple zones along with better visibility and protection of car occupants, pedestrians […]
The European Parliament’s transport committee has voted overwhelmingly in support of proposals to improve the safety of heavy goods vehicles. The revised rules on lorry dimensions will allow for cabs with improved visibility, especially important for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas. Welcoming the news, Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said: Europe is a global leader in vehicle safety. This vote brings us a step closer to bringing innovations on crumple zones, visibility and pedestrian […]
EU plans for all new cars to be fitted with automated emergency call devices (eCall) moved a step closer today following a vote in the European Parliament’s Transport committee. ETSC welcomed the move. Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of ETSC said: “After a serious car crash, every second counts. This system has the potential to save many lives because it will enable the emergency services to respond quicker. “The European Parliament has been a strong supporter of eCall, it’s important that Parliament negotiators continue to […]