Europe gets serious on safety with next-generation rules for car manufacturers

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Published: 26 February 2013

A SERIES of new rules for car manufacturers designed to improve car safety and save lives have come into force.

Measures which became mandatory include seatbelt safety reminders, safety requirements for electric vehicles, easier child seat anchorages, better protection against the displacement of luggage in case of an accident and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

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Jim Champion
The new measures will kick-start a generation of cars which take car safety to the next level, required under the General Safety Regulation, adopted in 2009 - which replaced a complex 50 acts of legislation into one.

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: "We are working hard to improve the safety of European drivers, passengers and road users in general. These new measures will substantially increase the level of safety by reducing the likelihood and consequences of accidents. This will be a tangible achievement of the European Union."

The EU wishes to reduce road fatalities by 50 per cent by 2020.

SAFETY: THE NEW RULES

1. The driver seat will have to be fitted with a safety belt reminder. The device will remind the driver to fasten his or her seatbelt by means of an optical and audible warning that will persist even when the car is already moving.

2. Electric cars will have to fulfil strict electric safety requirements, ensuring that car users cannot get an electric shock from parts in the vehicle or engine compartment.

3. Cars will have to be fitted with at least two ISOFIX child seat anchorage points, which have to be fully integrated in the rear seats. These anchorage points can be used with compatible child seats, resulting in better stability of the child seat and better child protection. The child seats are also much easier to install on the vehicle seats.

4. In addition, cars will be fitted with new labels, warning against the placement of rearward facing child restraint systems on a seat protected by an active frontal airbag.

5. The rear passenger seats in front of the luggage compartment will now have to be made strong enough to protect against the displacement of luggage in the boot, in case of a frontal car crash. Occupants are therefore less likely to be struck by objects flying from the boot (trunk) in an accident, reducing likely bodily harm.

6. Tyres of passenger cars will have to be fitted with an on-board tyre pressure monitoring system detecting loss of air pressure and signalling this to the driver. The chance of tyre blowouts will be thus reduced significantly. Such blowouts can cause severe roll-over accidents. Proper tyre pressure will also ensure the shortest possible braking distance and save fuel and CO2 emissions.

7. Finally, new types of passenger cars will also have to be fitted with gear shift indicators aiding drivers to achieve better fuel economy by adopting a more environmentally friendly driving style.