“The Alfa Romeo 159 is the first model from the Italian manufacturer to gain a five-star occupant safety rating from Euro NCAP”

Alfa Romeo
The all-new Alfa Romeo 159, which went on sale earlier this year, has become the first model from the Italian manufacturer to gain a five-star occupant safety rating from the European New Car Assessment Programme. One of the Italian sporting car manufacturer’s aims with the 159 project was to take the lead in the field of automotive passive safety. An Alfa Romeo-engineered all-new premium floorpan, which incorporates high performance materials, multi-ply sheet metal, and laser welding, was the starting point, followed by bodyshell construction.

The Alfa 159 also boasts as many as eight airbags, (seven of which are standard equipment on UK cars), including special bags to protect the knees, and sidebags that extend along the window area. In addition, there are restraint systems (pre-tensioners and load limiters on the seatbelts), and front seats with an anti-whiplash system that automatically brings the head restraint closer to the occupant’s neck in the event of a rear impact.

The Alfa 159 also boasts a new suspension system, high double wishbones at the front and multilinks at the rear, to improve roadholding. Numerous electronic systems enhance the car’s dynamic behaviour when on the road, including a vehicle dynamic control system (VDC) that enhances cornering stability, anti-slip regulation (ASR), hydraulic brake assistance (HBA) which cuts in during emergency braking, ABS anti-lock braking complete with EBD, and a hill holder to simplify hill starts. The 159 may also be fitted with a tyre pressure sensor, which signals any anomalies with a beep and an illuminating icon on the fascia display screen. The system monitors both insufficient inflation pressure and a puncture.

Chrysler Jeep
Jeep has twinned ESP technology with proven 4x4 capability across the 2006 Cherokee range. A tyre pressure monitoring system is also now standard across the model line-up. A company spokesman says: “If drivers are looking for the ultimate in safe and effective driving they should look no further than the Jeep Cherokee. The four-wheel drive system already provides outstanding traction on wet or icy tarmac – adding a skid control system like ESP means that customers can enjoy their car with the added peace of mind that they are in one of the most capable cars on the road.”

A four-star rated Euro NCAP vehicle, the new Jeep Cherokee’s standard safety features include ESP, ABS, driver and front passenger airbags, side impact protection guards, a tyre pressure warning system and on the Limited, side curtain airbags.

The ESP computer maintains increased stability by continuously comparing the actual behaviour of the vehicle with pre-programmed reference values.

The moment the Cherokee deviates from its ideal line, the ESP system intervenes by braking on one or more wheels and/or reducing engine power so restoring stability. The Cherokee is now the second Jeep to have ESP as standard along with the Grand Cherokee. An additional feature of the Jeep ESP system is ERM (electronic roll mitigation). This is an extension of ESP, which uses the ESP sensors to anticipate if the vehicle is entering a potential roll situation. It applies the brakes individually and modulates throttle position as needed to attempt to avoid the roll situation.

“The Citroën C6 and C4 were the first and second-highest rated cars in the history of the Euro NCAP tests”

Citroën
Citroën won the prestigious 2006 What Car? Safety Award in recognition of the industry-leading advances that the French manufacturer has made in setting new standards for occupant and pedestrian safety. What Car?’s Safety Award is given to the manufacturer or organisation, which has done the most to improve road safety over the preceding 12 months. The magazine says: “This year’s award is testament to Citroën’s commitment to provide market-leading levels of safety across its entire car range, from the robust C1 city car to the elegant C6 – the first car in the world to achieve a full four-star Euro NCAP rating for pedestrian protection.”

Citroën’s C6 flagship broke new ground with its Euro NCAP crash test results – maximum star ratings for pedestrian and occupant protection combined with four stars for child protection (RoadSafe: winter 2005/06). High-tech safety features include an innovative active bonnet to limit pedestrian injuries in the event of an impact; and features designed to keep a driver’s attention on the road ahead, including a lane departure warning system, head-up display, automatic wipers and directional headlamps.

At the time of the award, the C6 and C4 were the first and second-highest rated cars in the history of the Euro NCAP crash tests. The C6 received a total points score of 100 (occupant protection: 34; pedestrian protection: 28; child protection: 38), and the C4 received a total points score of 99 (occupant protection: 35; pedestrian protection: 22; child protection: 42). All four of Citroën’s superminis have four Euro NCAP stars for front and side impact protection, while the C4 has the highest all-round score in the small family car sector. The C5 remains the highest scoring car in its class for occupant protection and the C8 was the first large MPV in the UK to be awarded five stars for occupant protection.

The magazine concluded: “Many car makers have improved their crash test performance or introduced technologies to help make our roads safer, but Citroën has done the most. The highlight of an impressive year of achievement was the superb performance of the C6 executive saloon in the Euro NCAP crash tests.”

Fiat
The all-new Fiat Punto, known as Grande Punto in deference to its class-leading overall size, achieved the highest overall score recorded for superminis in European New Car Assessment Programme crash testing. The new model, which entered showrooms earlier this year, was awarded a maximum five-star safety rating for passenger safety, three stars for child protection and a further three stars for pedestrian protection, recording a total of 33 points out of a possible 37.

Standard equipment on all versions includes ABS anti-lock braking, driver and passenger front airbags – up to seven airbags can be specified – and “follow-me-home headlamps”. Safety levels are further boosted by a range of features usually reserved for higher segment cars, including cruise control and parking sensors. Along with standard ABS anti-lock brakes, complete with electronic brakeforce distribution, Punto boasts the full range of braking, traction control and stability systems available on the market today.

Punto versions can be equipped with ASR to limit wheelspin during acceleration, MSR to modulate brake torque whilst changing down, and ESP to control stability through bends. Vehicles fitted with ESP also benefit from hydraulic brake assistance and a hill holder function to facilitate smooth hill starts.

“Latest statistics show alcoholrelated deaths and injuries on the UK's roads to be rising”

Ford
An array of new passive and active safety features have made their debut on the recently-launched crossover seven-seat Ford S-MAX and latest incarnation of the Ford Galaxy MPV. Both vehicles can be specified with a new active suspension system with continuously controlled damping (CCD) and adaptive cruise control with forward alert. The CCD technology effectively provides adaptive damping by rapid damper valve control. This means that each damper valve can be adjusted almost every two tenths of a second to guarantee the best interaction between comfort and road contact. Heave, pitch and roll of the vehicle are controlled by the system, improving handling and stability. The system interacts with each vehicle’s stability system (ESP).

Adaptive cruise control with forward alert and collision mitigation by braking – both available on the two models – are all driver aids based on radar distance control from the vehicle ahead. An all-new driver’s knee airbag also debuts, along with a permanent tyre pressure monitoring system and hill-launch-assist, which allows the driver to release the brake pedal and to step on the accelerator pedal without the vehicle rolling backwards. Also, in keeping with Ford’s “no-compromise” approach to safety and evolving European Union vehicle crash test legislative requirements, measures have been taken to deliver an increased level of pedestrian protection against injury from the vehicles.

“With ADAS switched on, the extent of the driver's eye movement increases to cover more areas on or around the road”

Honda
Honda’s all-new Accord, which went on sale in the UK earlier this year, features a number of significant and ground-breaking systems to increase driver comfort and safety.

These include Honda’s Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS), which comprises Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The LKAS system applies steering torque to ensure the Accord remains safely in the centre of a road lane. A tiny camera positioned near the rear-view mirror monitors the road markings and steers the car if it drifts toward the edge of a lane, thereby reducing the burden of motorway or main road driving and enhancing driver comfort and safety.

ACC uses a radar to measure the distance to the vehicle ahead. In addition to maintaining a set speed, as with conventional cruise control, ACC is also able to automatically regulate both the vehicle speed and its distance to the vehicle ahead travelling in the same lane. Meanwhile, with ADAS switched on, the extent of the driver’s eye movement increases to cover more areas on or around the road.

The state-of-the-art driving aids are available on the Accord ADAS model, a range-topping version of the 2.4 EX with automatic transmission. Similar safety features will also appear on the new executive sector Legend, which goes on sale this summer. A technological tour de force, standard on all models is Honda’s original Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system (SH-AWD) which complements the Vehicle Stability Assist programme.

Honda says that SH-AWD is more than just a conventional four-wheel drive system. With frontto- rear torque variation and, by means of a pair of electromagnetic clutches in the rear axle, it is capable of proportioning the torque between left and right rear wheels. When accelerating during cornering, SH-AWD accelerates the outer rear wheel, which helps the car to turn in more readily. If the car is decelerating during cornering, the torque balance is controlled to counteract oversteer. The result is neutral handling and vehicle stability.

Other features fitted as standard include dual stage front airbags, side and curtain airbags, Active Front Lighting System featuring directional lighting, while ACC with Honda’s Collision Mitigation Brake System and LKAS are options. The Legend’s pedestrian protection measures include a standard pop-up bonnet, one of the first of its kind on the market (RoadSafe: winter 2005/06). Activation by a pyrotechnic device, in the event of an impact, occurs in milliseconds and its effect is to help cushion the pedestrian’s body.

Hyundai
Hyundai says that the new Santa Fe, which went on sale in the UK in April, was designed from the outset to provide superior levels of active and passive safety. Central to that ambition was the creation of a robust and more rigid bodyshell, using extensive computer design techniques and crash simulations. That has enabled strategic crumple zones and reinforcements to be built into the vehicle, which can absorb impact forces and direct them away from the passenger cabin should an accident occur.

On-road active safety systems available on the Santa Fe include: ESP (electronic stability programme), fitted as standard to CDX and CDX+ versions, and ABS with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution). Brake dimensions have also been increased, with ventilated 16-inch front discs and larger brake boosters ensuring powerful stopping power.

All versions of the new Santa Fe are fitted with six airbags, (eight in the seven-seat models) with driver and front passenger front airbags (the passenger airbag is now fitted with a cut-off switch), front side airbags and roof curtain airbags. On seven-seat models the roof airbags extend through to the third row seats. Three-point seatbelts are provided on all seats and, on higher-grade models, active head restraints are provided for enhanced protection against whiplash injuries.

“Many manufacturers haven’t paid as much attention to occupant protection in rear crashes, compared with front and side crashes”

Jaguar
Jaguar has received the 2006 World Traffic Safety Symposium’s Traffic Safety Achievement Award in the Automaker Category for the XK model’s Pedestrian Impact Safety System. The model, which was launched in the UK in the spring, also won the Engineering and Technology Award in the 2005 Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards (RoadSafe: winter 2005/06), for the industry-leading technology designed to protect pedestrians in the event of a crash.

To reward major advancements in traffic safety, the World Traffic Safety Symposium recognises organisations and individuals that are creating a safer environment for motorists and pedestrians. Each year, nominations are submitted for the Symposium’s Achievement Awards and winners are selected by the Symposium’s Advisory Committee, which is comprised of auto safety experts from government agencies, educational institutions, private foundations and individuals with a passion for the advancement of traffic safety.

Chris Sams, spokesman for the World Traffic Safety Symposium, says: “Jaguar deserves this honour for its commitment to pedestrian safety and for its innovation and technical excellence. The judges were particularly impressed by the far-reaching, comprehensive nature of the Jaguar system.” The XK’s pyrotechnic deployable bonnet system was created to meet phase one of the new European safety legislation.

The new European standards for pedestrian safety are designed to help mitigate the severity of injuries to pedestrians in the event of a collision. In the unfortunate event of a pedestrian impact, the deployable bonnet on the new XK automatically “pops” up a few inches, to increase space between the engine and the bonnet. This helps to isolate the pedestrian from hard points in the engine compartment – and takes place in less than a tenth of the time it takes to blink an eye. An advanced sensing system is mounted in the front bumper to help discriminate between a pedestrian collision and any other possible front-end collisions.

Kia
Korean manufacturer Kia was Britain’s fastest-growing vehicle manufacturer last year as the company laid the final stage of redevelopment of its entire product range by the end of 2006. In a 2005 new car market down 5%, Kia achieved a 19% increase with sales finishing at 39,761 year-on-year, putting the marque ahead of popular consumer brands such as SEAT, Fiat and Volvo.

Kia’s all-new Sedona MPV goes on sale this summer and the model’s safety performance has already been recognised in the US, where it has earned a five-star safety rating from the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The model was awarded the Gold Top Safety Pick – the first vehicle of its type to earn the award – for its performance with top ratings in frontal, side and rear impact crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the US.

To receive a Gold Top Safety Pick Rating, a vehicle must receive a rating of “good” – the Institute’s highest rating – in all three categories of frontal, side and rear impact tests. Among the eight current rival vehicles the Institute has rated, the Sedona is the only one that earns “good” ratings in all three Institute tests.

One of the key features of the Sedona is its active head restraints and IIHS president Adrian Lund says: “Many manufacturers haven’t paid as much attention to occupant protection in rear crashes, compared with front and side crashes. Kia deserves credit for designing the Sedona’s seat/ head restraints for protection in one of the most common kinds of commuter traffic crashes.”

Seven individual seats are mounted in a 2+3+2 layout and all five middle and back-row seats can be individually moved, reclined, folded or removed.

“The Advanced Obstacle Detection System can detect a wide range of obstacles in the path of the LS 460, including pedestrians and animals”

Lexus
The all-new Lexus LS 460 is the flagship of the luxury car manufacturer’s range and the fourth generation of the model showcases a host of safety features, including four world debuts. On sale in the UK from the autumn, the LS 460 sets new standards in the protection of both occupants and pedestrians, according to Lexus.

The ground-breaking developments are based on the key Lexus tenet of accident avoidance through anticipation. As a result, the LS sets new standards in anticipatory safety with a range of revolutionary, state-ofthe- art systems designed to protect not only driver and passengers, but also those in its immediate environment.

The four world firsts are:

• An Advanced Obstacle Detection System
• An Emergency Steering Assist
• A Rear Pre-Crash Safety System
• A Driver Monitoring System

The basis for the technological breakthroughs is the pre-crash safety system available on all Lexus saloons. Thanks to a millimetre-wave radar and stereo cameras, the Advanced Obstacle Detection System can detect a wide range of obstacles in the path of the LS 460, including, for the first time, pedestrians and animals. When there is a high probability of collision, an alarm will prompt evasive action by the driver. However, if the system concludes the collision is unavoidable, the pre-crash seatbelts’ pre-tensioning mechanism will be activated and the brakes will be automatically applied to reduce the consequences of the impact.

Moreover, Emergency Steering Assist substantially improves the vehicle’s response to the driver’s steering input in the likelihood of a collision, increasing the chances of avoiding the obstacle. The world’s first Rear Pre-Crash Safety System, employs a millimetre-wave radar installed within the rear bumper to constantly scan the area around the back of the vehicle. If the system determines a high probability of collision, it automatically activates the pre-crash front headrests, which move forwards and upwards to cushion the occupant’s head in anticipation of an impact, greatly reducing the risk of whiplash injury.

A further element of the enhanced Pre-Crash Safety System, the first-ever Driver Monitoring System constantly tracks the movement of the driver’s face through a miniature camera installed on the steering column. If an obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle when the driver is not looking forward, the Pre-Crash alarm function will be anticipated, in addition to a momentary, gentle brake activation to alert the driver.

To protect occupants from the consequences of a collision, a robust safety structure capable of absorbing a high degree of impact energy and several strategically placed SRS airbags are offered as the ultimate, effective line of defence. In addition to front, side and curtain shield airbags, the new LS 460 is, in common with its predecessor, the only car in the segment to offer knee airbags for both front passengers.

The LS 460 is also the first car in the segment to be equipped with a lane-keeping assist system. When the system determines that the vehicle is deviating from its lane, based on the white road line information captured by the stereo cameras, an alarm is activated and enough steering rotation is automatically applied for a short period of time to guide the vehicle back into its lane.

In addition, when the adaptive cruise control is active, “steering power support” is provided to ensure that the vehicle is centred in its lane – again based on the white road line information. The driver can, however, override this automatic steering action at any time. Meanwhile, the model’s active safety equipment is highlighted by two segment firsts: variable gear ratio steering (VGRS) and vehicle dynamics integrated management (VDIM), which together also establish a link between active and preventive safety.

VGRS employs an actuator attached to the intermediate steering column shaft which alters the steering gear ratio according to vehicle speed. At very low speeds, the gear ratio is at its lowest to reduce both the steering input and effort required during tight cornering and parking manoeuvres. At medium speeds, the gear ratio is optimised for light, accurate vehicle response when cornering. And at high speed the ratio is at its highest to ensure gentle response to inputs and maximum vehicle stability. In addition, VGRS connects with other safety systems to ensure the most rapid steering response possible when necessary.

Processing comprehensive status data provided by sensors throughout the vehicle, VDIM integrates the LS’s ABS brakes, electronic brake-force distribution – the car is the only one in its segment to feature a by-wire braking system – traction control and vehicle stability control active safety systems with the electronic power steering and VGRS. VDIM has the ability to act in anticipation, activating control of these systems before the limits of the vehicle have been reached. In addition, the stability control system can enhance performance, traction control and vehicle stability, whilst offering smoother vehicle behaviour at this threshold.

“The new generation E-Class is the first vehicle in the world to feature adaptive headlamps, which respond to the prevailing driving and weather conditions”

Mercedes
Mercedes is putting safety first with its new E-Class, which went on sale in June and features much of the safety technology that debuted on the flagship S-Class earlier this year (RoadSafe: winter 2005/06). In launching the new generation E-Class, Mercedes says that no other car in the market segment can match the range of safety innovations including PRE-SAFE®, intelligent light system, NECK-PRO head restraints and adaptive brake lights.

The new generation E-Class is the first vehicle in the world to feature adaptive headlamps, which respond to the prevailing driving and weather conditions, providing a significant improvement in driving safety. The intelligent light system, developed by Hella, is available as an option on the saloon and estate. It is based on the powerful bi-xenon headlamps and includes five different lighting functions – country, motorway, active bend lighting, fog and cornering.

The new “country mode” provides brighter, further illumination of the offside verge than the previous lowbeam headlamps. Here the driver’s range of vision is increased by around 10 metres, which allows recognition of other road users or obstacles earlier in the dark. The “motorway mode” activated automatically at speeds above 56 mph, produces an even light cone that extends to a range of up to 120 metres, illuminating the entire road width. In the centre of this light cone the driver can see around 50 metres further. Thanks to the enhanced fog lamps, Mercedes-Benz has also improved orientation in fog whilst reducing backglare. Another component of the intelligent light system is the cornering light function, which provides enhanced safety when turning at intersections or taking bends slowly.

Saloon and estate models are equipped as standard with the anticipatory PRE-SAFE® system, whose “reflexes” respond before an impending collision by activating protection measures for the driver and front passenger. As a result, the seatbelt and airbag provide maximum protection in the event of a collision. PRE-SAFE®, a world first, went into series production in the S-Class in 2002 and since then has received numerous international awards.

During a rear impact the sensor-controlled standardfit NECK-PRO head restraints are moved forward to provide protection for the driver’s and front passenger’s heads within milliseconds. The crash-responsive head restraints prevent the upper spinal column from bending as a result of the accident, reducing the risk of whiplash injuries, one of the most common accident injuries costing around E8bn annually in the European Union. Mercedes-Benz has fitted the new generation E-Class with flashing brake lights to prevent rear-end collisions. They warn the drivers behind more effectively than conventional brake lights when there is a risk of an accident.

Tests conducted by Mercedes engineers show that the driver’s braking reaction time can be shortened on average by up to 0.2 seconds if a flashing warning light is used during emergency braking. As a result, the braking distance can be reduced by 5.50 metres at 62 mph. In the autumn the Mercedes GL-Class, a premium seven-seat off-roader will go on sale and, once again, many of the safety features that debuted on the S-Class and are now available on the E-Class will appear, including PRESAFE ®, a first in the segment.

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class was rated “safest small family car” in a car safety report carried out by Which? The report highlighted cars which offer driver and passengers the best protection in the event of an accident. It recommends new car buyers should ensure their choice of vehicle is equipped with stability control technology and says ESP is a potential life-saving technology. BClass safety includes Steering Assist, Acceleration Skid Control, (ASR) Anti-lock braking system (ABS), Brake Assist (BAS) and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). Dermot Kelly, managing director, Mercedes Car Group in the UK, said: “We take the safety and security of our customers extremely seriously and are delighted that BClass has received independent recognition of its high safety standards.”

“Nissan's Safety Shield concept is an accident prevention and management approach based on the idea of ‘vehicles that help protect people’”

Nissan
Nissan’s ambition is to help create a safe motorised society in which there are no traffic accidents. Consequently, the Japanese vehicle manufacturer is continuously working to design and engineer safer vehicles and has set a goal of halving by 2015 the number of fatal and serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles compared to the 1995 level.

Crucial to its aspirations has been the development of a “Safety Shield” concept, an accident prevention and management approach based on the idea of “vehicles that help protect people”. The latest innovation developed under Nissan’s “Safety Shield” initiative is a distance control assist system, which helps drivers control the distance between themselves and the vehicle in front.

Nissan says that the new system is especially useful in heavy traffic when frequent braking is required. The system is able to determine the following distance of the driver, as well as the relative speed of both cars, using a radar sensor installed in the front bumper. If the driver releases the accelerator pedal or is not pressing the accelerator pedal, the system automatically applies the brakes.

If the system determines that braking is required, an indicator will appear on the instrument panel and a buzzer will sound simultaneously. The accelerator pedal will then automatically move upwards to assist the driver in switching to the brakes. Nissan has not revealed when the technology might be incorporated in its models, but it could debut in the UK when the manufacturer’s luxury brand, Infiniti, comes to Europe in 2008.

Peugeot
The 207, Peugeot’s successor to the hugely successful 206, entered UK showrooms in June with Euro NCAP crash test ratings never before achieved by a supermini – f ive-star occupant protection, three-star pedestrian protection and four-star child protection. A Peugeot spokesman says: “First the Peugeot 1007 rewrote the Euro NCAP rule book by becoming the first car to exceed 36 points, and still is the only car to achieve this milestone. Now Peugeot’s new 207 sets another milestone by becoming the brand’s first car to be awarded three stars for pedestrian protection by Euro NCAP.”

Sharing the same platform as the Peugeot 1007, which was launched 12 months ago (RoadSafe: summer 2005), has given the new Peugeot 207 inner strength, but adding big car protection technology from the Peugeot 407 – the front-end of which was specifically designed to reduce injury to pedestrians in the event of a crash – has made it pedestrian friendly as well, according to the company. The 207 borrows from the 407 the use of two impact absorption structures which distribute impact energy more efficiently in the event of a collision and also enhance repairability and pedestrian impact protection. Peugeot, says that such technology is not usually found in superminis.

By 2010, vehicle manufacturers must meet new European standards on pedestrian impact protection and, therefore, the 207 is one of the first vehicles to be designed to meet the legislation. The 207 also has six airbags, anti-submarining seats, pre-tensioning seatbelts with force limiters and, Isofix mountings for child protection on the two outer rear seats that comply with the new three-point fixing standards. The active safety package includes the standard fitment on all models of ABS with EBFD/EBA, while on the range-topping GT standard equipment additionally includes ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), xenon directional headlamps, which make it easier to identify a pedestrian about to cross the road when driving in town, or a cyclist riding at the side of the road, and tyre pressure sensors.

The introduction of ESP on the 207 GT is one of the first uses of the potentially life-saving equipment on a supermini. Peugeot first introduced ESP in the small car sector on the 1007 and wet weather tests have shown that the technology can reduce the number of accidents by more than a third and by 22% on dry roads. The tests were carried out by the Swedish National Road Administration. Euro NCAP declared ESP, which detects if the vehicle is skidding and actively counteracts it by reducing engine power and applying the brakes to individual wheels without any intervention from the driver, a “must have” for motorists last year.

“The Mégane hatch was the first car of its category to be awarded a fivestar Euro NCAP crash test rating”

Renault
Renault was the first vehicle manufacturer to receive the top five-star occupant protection rating for a model from the Euro NCAP and it has gone on to have more cars crowned with the highest marks than any other producer. The Laguna was the first car ever to receive the top five-star rating from Euro NCAP, setting the standard for the industry.

Now, fleet managers have a breadth of Renault vehicles to choose from to ensure their employees and their passengers are travelling in safety as well as comfort – with five-stars – whether the top-of-the-range Espace or the mini-MPV Modus, the entire Mégane family or the latest vehicle to be awarded five stars and European Car of the Year 2006, the all-new Clio. With fleet decision-makers consistently ranking health and safety and duty-of-care issues as their number one priority in numerous fleet surveys, Keith Hawes, Renault’s director of fleet and commercial vehicle sales, says: “The latest surveys confirm what we already knew, having discussed these issues with our customers.

“Duty of care is of immense importance to fleets and providing a safe vehicle for company use is vital. The simple solution is to choose a car that can save lives should the worst happen and the vehicle is involved in an accident. We provide the answer with our extensive range of cars as the only manufacturer to have eight cars with the maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP.” Not only has Renault won top ratings from Euro NCAP, but it has also won What Car? magazine’s prestigious “Safety Award” six times in seven years.

Customers such as Tim Allen, fleet manager of Cannock-based Bowmur Haulage, can vouch for the safety of Renault’s vehicles. He says: “Last year, we had a Mégane Sport Tourer on demonstration having been impressed by the existing 350 plus Renaults we already have in our fleet. One of our drivers was involved in a major accident whilst travelling in the Mégane at 70 mph on the M54. The driver walked away from the vehicle with nothing more serious than a couple of cracked ribs.

“I am convinced if it wasn’t for the five-star Euro NCAP safety achieved by the Mégane Sport Tourer, our driver may not have been so lucky. As a result, I ordered a replacement Renault there and then for him. With safety such an important issue for fleets, Renault’s strong performance in Euro NCAP tests, along with the experience of my own driver, has ensured Renault is one of my preferred manufacturers for our fleet.” The revised Mégane, which went on sale earlier this year – although Scénic and Grand Scénic models remained unchanged – comes with a long list of driver aids which contribute to ensuring that the driver stays in control of their vehicle in an emergency.

All versions come with the latest-generation ABS, complete with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist, which ensure that maximum use is made of the car’s braking power. According to equipment level, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with understeer control is also available. This feature is complemented by ASR traction control and an engine torque overrun regulation function (MSR). Meanwhile, the Mégane can be ordered with a tyre pressure monitoring system, which is designed to detect slow punctures or incompatible tyre pressures. The Mégane hatch was the first car of its category to be awarded a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, while the Coupé-Cabriolet version continues to be the only vehicle in its class to have obtained the same result. The new Mégane is designed to ensure maximum protection in all the situations recorded by Renault’s accident research programme and the car features the third-generation Renault System for Restraint and Protection, which guarantees optimal protection for all passengers wherever they are seated. In addition, according to body type and equipment level, Mégane is equipped with up to 10 airbags, double pretensioners and load limiters.

New in the spring was the 2006 version of the Espace, which has become the first vehicle in its class to feature bi-xenon cornering lights providing up to 90% additional lighting when cornering. And, says the French manufacturer, for complete ease of mind when travelling as a family, the Espace 2006’s active and passive safety features confirm its position as the benchmark in its segment. When launched three years ago, Espace IV was the safest car ever tested by Euro NCAP. The latest version is equipped with rain and light sensors, “see me home” lights, front and rear parking assist, a tyre pressure monitoring system, Emergency Brake Assist with ABS and ESP with understeer control, driver’s double seatbelt pretensioners and driver and front passenger seatbelt reminders.

The Renault system for restraint and protection comprises eight airbags and three-point seatbelts complete with load limiters. Rear parking sensors are also available. Additionally, all the rear seats can be fitted with Isofix attachments and “sleep safe” convertible child head restraints are available (see below).

“At the end of the first quarter of this year, official motor industry figures revealed that Saab had recorded all-time volume in the UK, Europe and globally”

Saab
Saab’s safety focus is reflected in both its 9-3 and 9-5 models being awarded five-star occupant crash test ratings by the European New Car Assessment Programme. Safety features have grown in importance in recent years as one of the fundamental requirements of motorists when making their vehicle choice and that is perhaps partly reflected in Saab’s flying start to 2006. At the end of the first quarter of this year official motor industry figures revealed the Swedish manufacturer had recorded all-time volume in the UK, in Europe and globally. And that record-breaking pace has continued in the second quarter of the year.

The Saab 9-3’s safety record was reflected in it being the first-ever “Top Safety Pick” gold award winner selected by the US-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The award, received at the end of last year, is a bestof- the-best distinction that recognises car designs that provide the best occupant protection in front, side and rear crashes based on Institute testing. IIHS crash tests result in ratings from good to poor with top performers receiving a “good” and “Best Pick” designation. The 9-3 saloon received a “Best Pick” in both front and side crash tests.

Stig Nodin, director – engineering centre, Sweden, General Motors Europe, says: “These results are further evidence of the dedication and skill of the engineers who work with the safety development of Saab cars. However, the priority is always to protect real people in real crashes through the implementation of our Real-life Safety strategy.”

Saab Real-life Safety involves the use of computer simulations and crash tests designed to replicate what happens in real collisions on real roads, based on the findings of a database covering more than 6,100 real-life crashes involving Saab cars on Swedish roads. Safety systems built into the 9-3 include cornering brake control with ABS, which increases brake capacity and simultaneously reduces the tendency for the car to pull to one side when the driver turns the wheel and brakes at the same time. Further aiding brake control is Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), which distributes brake force between the vehicle’s front and rear wheels depending on how the car is loaded and cuts stopping distances when carrying heavy loads.

Vital when turning is chassis stability and a feature of the 9-3 is its ReAxs system, which enables the rear wheels to steer slightly when turning, helping the car move in the intended direction. This ensures crisp steering feedback to the driver and contributes to enhanced driving stability in bends. As well as being equipped with front and side airbags, the 9-3 was the first Saab to be equipped with a roof rail airbag to protect occupants against side and severe frontal impacts. It is inflated from above the B-post area and helps protect the heads of front and rear occupants. Finally, the 9-3, like its big brother the 9-5, is equipped with Saab’s active head restraints on the front seats.

“Real world data from insurance claims shows that the Saab 9-3 with active head restraints has produced a 42% reduction in whiplash injuries”

All 9-3 and 9-5 models have been awarded top marks for protection against neck injury, following the latest round of rear-end collision tests conducted by the Motor Industry Insurance Research Centre at Thatcham. The test classifies the performance of a car’s front seats and head restraints in offering neck injury protection as “poor”, “marginal”, “acceptable” or “good”. The Saab 9-3 Convertible, 9-3 SportWagon and 9-5 models were all awarded the highest-possible “good” rating, as achieved in 2004 by the 9-3 sport saloon in the first round of tests. Thatcham crash research manager Matthew Avery says: “Saab has been a benchmark for designing seats to help prevent whiplash injury. Real world data from insurance claims shows that the Saab 9-3 with active head restraints has produced a 42% reduction in whiplash injuries, compared to the previous model which did not have them.

“The ‘best practice’ approach from Saab was a fundamental part of the International Insurance Whiplash Prevention Group’s test procedure and it encourages all manufacturers to fit similar systems.” Saab’s pioneering active head restraints are at the forefront of safety innovation and were developed to reduce relative movement between the head and lower back and thus reduce neck injuries and whiplash in rear impacts. After activation, the system immediately returns to its passive position, ready for further deployment. Per Lenhoff, head of crash safety at Saab Automobile, says: “Although rear-end collisions are seldom lifethreatening, they are a common type of accident which can cause long-term injury and discomfort.”

The latest 9-5 saloon and estate model range was launched in the UK late last year and, apart from the active head restraints features a range of other class-leading safety equipment. This includes ABS with traction control and electronic stability control (ESP), five three-point seatbelts including pre-tensioning and load-limiting for front occupants, bi-xenon headlamps with auto-levelling, a night panel function to aid night-time driving, front and side airbags and optional rain-sensitive windscreen wipers.

Saab’s night panel function, which was first seen 16 years ago on the then-new second-generation 900 model range, is now standard on all models.

It enables all unnecessary instrument illumination to be extinguished at the touch of a button, with any important information lighting up, on a need-to-know basis, to alert the driver of a potential hazard, such as low fuel levels. The panel can also be used to remind the driver that they are speeding, with the speedometer illuminated up to 80 mph ordinarily, with the remainder of the speedo lighting up if the driver exceeds 70 mph. A spokesman says: “At Saab, we believe the most important instrument in a car is the windscreen, as this is what the driver should be focusing on, looking at what lies ahead on the road, rather than being distracted by information that is unnecessary for 99% of the time.”

“Subaru's excellent results further vindicate adherence to the low-centreof- gravity 'boxer' engine, which enhances stability”

Subaru
Three Subarus have won safety plaudits from authorities in the US. The manufacturer’s new B9 Tribeca – which goes on sale in the UK in November – has been awarded top crash test ratings by America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The US-built sports utility vehicle scored five stars for both front and side crash-protection, the maximum achievable. Tests are based on the risk of driver and passenger head and chest injury in a frontal collision and chest injury for front and rear seat passengers in a side impact.

In addition, Subaru’s new five and seven-seat flagship earned four stars in roll-over tests. The BMW X5-sized Tribeca was given a low 16% chance of rolling over and a “no-tip” dynamic test result. This compares with an average 30% chance of overturning among all US-market SUVs and a range between 12 and 19% for passenger cars. Subaru (UK) managing director Peter Kinnaird says: “These excellent results further vindicate Subaru’s adherence to the low-centre-of gravity ‘boxer’ engine which enhances stability and therefore safety.”

Meanwhile, the Legacy saloon and estate and the Impreza have each achieved “Top Safety Pick Gold” awards from the America’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which scored the cars “good”– the highest rating – in every category. Areas covered included side impacts at 31mph, offset frontal barrier at 40mph and rear crash impact where the stationary Legacy was struck by a car at 20mph and the head-restraint mechanism checked for neck-injury protection. All tests are conducted at speeds higher than the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards require.

Toyota
The five-star Euro NCAP-rated Yaris supermini went on sale earlier this year and its score of 35 points matches the previous high total for a Toyota, set by the Corolla Verso. It joins the Verso, Avensis and Prius in gaining the five-star classification. The Yaris’s body structure was developed using Toyota’s Minimal Intrusion Cabin System (MICS) technology. Front or side impact forces are dispersed through the vehicle’s body, channelled away from the passenger cell and minimising the amount of cabin deformation.

Driver and passenger front and side airbags, curtain shield airbags and the first driver’s knee airbag to be offered in the segment – standard on all but the entry-level T2 grade – are all available on the new Yaris, together with a dual-stage seatbelt warning system for the driver and front seat passenger. In total up to nine airbags are available.

The Yaris was the first model Toyota has developed using its own, more stringent in-house car-to-car crash test standards. These simulate side and rear 50% offset impacts with a two-tonne vehicle, with both vehicles travelling at 34 mph (55 km/h).

“Safety features pioneered on the low-medium Astra have now migrated to larger models, such as the Zafira, Vectra and Signum”

Vauxhall
Two years ago Vauxhall launched its latest generation Astra and the current ACFO (Association of Car Fleet Operators) Car of the Year has been the launch pad for a range of safety features that have since appeared across the vehicle manufacturer’s range. The current Astra and Zafira, the UK’s best-selling MPV, have both received five-star occupant protection crash test ratings under Euro NCAP, while both the new Vectra and Signum, which both entered UK showrooms in October last year, have yet to be tested.

Astra saw the debut of the latest generation of Vauxhall’s Interactive Driving System, now known as IDS-Plus, which has since been incorporated in the other models, which have now reached showrooms in significantly revised guises. Essentially, IDS is an electronic chassis network that integrates all the individual safety systems such as the Electronic Stability Programme ESP Plus, Traction Control TC Plus, ABS plus Emergency Brake Assist, which increases the brake pressure, shortening the braking distance, and Continuous Damping Control (CDC), which enables the vehicle suspension to adapt to road conditions.

Also incorporated within the ABS package is cornering brake control, which, mated to Emergency Brake Assist, makes the car easier to control and stop in extreme cornering and braking. Meanwhile, the Sport Switch, which was also first seen on new Astra, enables the driver at the press of a button to choose a more performance-orientated set-up. At the time of the Astra’s launch the technology was, says Vauxhall, the kind of chassis system previously seen only in higher-priced market segments and therefore represented another example of the marque’s pioneering developments within mainstream, affordable cars.

Perhaps the most important safety feature incorporated on the new Astra is ESP, which is also available on Zafira, Vectra and Signum. Euro NCAP has been pressing for motorists to ensure the next vehicle they choose is fitted with an electronic stability control, which studies have shown reduces the likelihood of a vehicle being involved in a crash by up to 35%. In the UK, only around a third of cars are fitted with ESP, which helps avoid a vehicle skidding and can turn an accident into a near-miss.

The Vauxhall models are also equipped with the manufacturer’s FlexOrganiser, which debuted on first generation Zafira and enables luggage to be stored securely and organised effectively with a system of nets and dividers. The movement of goods loaded unsafely can unbalance a car and potentially cause a disaster, particularly under braking and when negotiating a corner. The Vauxhall models also feature a range of airbags and the Zafira is equipped with three-point seatbelts for all seven seats as well as pretensioners. Other features available on Zafira include active safety front head restraints to prevent whiplash, a tyre deflation detection system, the sports switch and hill start assist, which maintains brake pressure for 15 seconds after the brake pedal is released so as to prevent the car rolling back.

Unlike many vehicle manufacturers, the safety features pioneered on the low-medium sector Astra have now migrated to larger models such as the Zafira, Vectra and Signum – for most carmakers the trend is the reverse. However, one feature that was first seen on Vectra and has also been introduced on Signum is adaptive forward lighting, which sees the headlights turn in tandem with the steering wheel so lighting up the road ahead thus making driving conditions safer. Both models also feature adaptive brake lights, which when braking at speed or standstill, sees the warning to fellow motorists emphasised by a series of flashing sequences of the three-level brake light giving traffic behind greater time to react.

The all-new Vauxhall Corsa made its world debut at July's British International Motor Show in London. Due to enter showrooms in the autumn, the new car’s chassis is tuned to deliver top levels of dynamic ability and agility, with a host of active safety features including enhanced understeer control.

The new Corsa will also be the first car in its class to have variable progressive sports power steering, which is designed to offer greater levels of feedback on the open road, but lightens up when used in congested urban areas. Innovations available on new Corsa will include halogen adaptive forward lighting, which alters the light beam according to speed and steering input and is a rarity in the supermini sector.

Volkswagen
Entering UK showrooms this summer is the all-new Volkswagen Eos – the only convertible-coupé with a glass sunroof – but featuring ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) as standard on both available models alongside twin front and combined curtain and side impact airbags for front and rear passengers. Volkswagen has also launched the Jetta this year, which is larger than the Bora it replaced, and features a host of safety functions on all models including as standard across the range: ABS with BAS (Brake Assist System) and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), driver and front passenger airbags, curtain airbag system, ESP including EDL (Electronic Differential Lock) and ASR (Traction Control).

Volvo
Safety has long been one of the major Volvo hallmarks and the Swedish manufacturer, now owned by Ford Motor Company, continues to bring new life-saving initiatives to the marketplace. One of the latest safety features is Driver Alert, which aims to reduce the number of accidents caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Statistics show that driver fatigue is a major road safety problem across the world. For example, studies by the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University show that driver sleepiness is considered to claim more lives on roads than alcohol, and accounts for at least 10% of all road accidents and up to 20% of those on motorways and trunk roads.

“Safety features pioneered on the low-medium Astra have now migrated to larger models, such as the Zafira, Vectra and Signum”

Similarly, driver fatigue is thought to account for 25% of all fatal accidents on German motorways and about 100,000 accidents or 1,500 deaths a year in the US. Driver Alert uses a camera installed between the windscreen and the rear-view mirror (below left), with a number of sensors and a processor, to constantly monitor the distance between the car and the road markings. If the vehicle is moving in an uncontrolled way, the system will alert the driver with an audible alert and message on the car’s information display panel before he, or she, falls asleep. The Driver Alert system also works if the driver loses concentration for some other reason, such as focusing too much attention on the navigation system, audio system or children in the car.

Dr Wolfgang Birk, Driver Alert project manager at Volvo Car Corporation, says: “We have chosen to monitor the car’s progress on the road instead of steering wheel input or the driver’s eye movements. This gives us a more reliable indication if something is likely to go wrong, allowing the system time to alert the driver before it is too late. We do not monitor human behaviour – which varies from one person to another – but instead the effect of that behaviour so there is less risk of false alarms.” In addition, the Driver Alert system also uses a visual method to pre-warn the driver if they are getting tired and if their driving is becoming less controlled, by displaying five illuminated stars at the start of the journey which slowly disappear if the driving becomes less controlled or consistent.

Volvo is anxious to promote that its Driver Alert system (below) is not confused with Lane Departure Warning Systems from manufacturers such as Citroën and Honda, which alert the driver when a lane marker is passed. Dr Birk said: “One crucial difference between the systems is that Driver Alert responds without any line having to be crossed.”

Volvo is continuing to fine-tune the system before offering it to customers. However, the manufacturer hopes it will be available within two years. Meanwhile, new safety features on Volvo’s flagship S80 are expected to help raise the model’s profile among company car drivers. As well as Volvo’s BLIS4 (Blind Spot Information System), which uses the latest digital camera technology to monitor the space alongside the car to detect and remind the driver if there are any other moving vehicles in the vehicle’s blind spot, and IDIS5 (Intelligent Driver Information System) – an electronic information system that helps prevent the driver being distracted by delaying any unnecessary information in busy or stressful situations.

New features include active bi-xenon headlights to help give the driver a better view of the road ahead at night, while a new adaptive cruise control, incorporated within the collision warning system, has a radar sensor to continuously measure and maintain a safe distance from the car in front by automatically adjusting the vehicle’s speed.

Volvo’s research shows that many rear-end accidents happen because the driver was distracted or failed to react in time, which is why the company has introduced on the S80 an optional collision warning and brake support system to help alert the driver and at least reduce the force and affects of any impact. If the vehicle approaches another moving car and the driver does not react, the radar triggers an audible signal and a head-up display flashes a red warning light on the windscreen. If the driver brakes hard the system makes the brake lights flash to warn the drivers behind, but if the driver does not react to the alerts and the risk of hitting the car in front increases, the Brake Support system hydraulically reinforces the brake pressure to provide effective braking.

Bi-xenon headlights, which move by 15 degrees in either direction to follow the curves of the road, will also be a feature of the enhanced 2007 model XC90, which makes its UK debut at this month’s (July) British International Motor Show, when the car is also expected to arrive in showrooms. Volvo will also introduce the option of a park assist camera to aid parking and give an improved view of the area behind when reversing as well as showing “help lines” of the XC90’s planned path or track – which could also be useful for drivers reversing to hitch up a trailer. The wideangled camera is designed to avoid excessive distortion and previews a large area via the car’s navigation screen on the dashboard.

Volvo’s commitment to vehicle safety earned the manufacturer an Association of Industrial Road Safety Officers’ 40th Anniversary Road Safety Award at the end of last year. The only commercial organisation to be recognised, AIRSO chairman Robert Smalley, says: “Volvo has been, and is today, an innovator in the field of safety, putting the well-being of their drivers and passengers as a paramount feature in design, and is eagerly watched by its competitors as safety features now become a greater consideration when purchasing a new vehicle.” Further underlining Volvo’s safety focus was the company’s achievement in scoring top marks in the 2006 model year new car whiplash ratings from the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre in Thatcham, which conducted the tests on behalf of the International Insurance Whiplash Prevention Group.

Volvo achieved top “good” scores for every model tested due to its supportive seats, which have a fixed head restraint position to ensure they are always in the correct position to offer the best support, and the Volvo Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) that moves the entire backrest to absorb the impact during a rear-end collision to help reduce the forces on the neck.

Matthew Avery, crash laboratory manager at Thatcham says: “Volvo has shown a continuing commitment to safety, and their seats once again performed very well in our tests. “This is supported by real-world injury data which confirms that these seats do produce a significant reduction in whiplash injuries – Volvo continues to be the trendsetter in this area.”