Global NCAP and Stop The Crash Partnership welcome new EU regulations on vehicle safety

Global NCAP and the Stop the Crash Partnership warmly welcome today’s European Commission announcement of proposals for the introduction of new road safety measures, some of the most significant in the last 20 years.

The so-called General Safety Regulation (GSR) package includes versions of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and intelligent speed assistance (ISA) to be applied in phases for new models.

AEB and ISA are life saving crash avoidance systems for which the Stop the Crash Partnership has campaigned since its launch in 2015 at the UN’s High Level Road Safety conference in Brasilia.

Speaking today, during the campaigns latest AEB safety demonstration at the London Motor Show, the Stop the Crash partners said:

David Ward, Secretary General of Global NCAP and Chairman of the Stop the Crash Partnership,

“25,300 people lost their lives on EU roads last year. Following an extensive consultation process this long overdue proposal to upgrade vehicle safety regulations is to be warmly welcomed, accelerating the fitment of life saving vehicle technology designed to protect the most vulnerable of road users.

“AEB and ISA are proven technologies which will contribute significantly to the EU’s newly proposed target to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. We strongly encourage Member States and the European Parliament to adopt the life saving package as quickly as possible.”

David Davies, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), said “Safety should be fitted as standard, not optional. These proposals by the EC would be a major step forward in European vehicle safety regulations. PACTS is calling on the UK Government to support them and to press for their rapid implementation.”

Dr. Dirk Hoheisel, member of the Bosch board of management, said “Automatic emergency braking systems protect pedestrians and cyclists and are the next step along the path toward accident free driving. As Bosch is committed to keeping drivers, passengers, and other road users from harm, we welcome the new road safety measures announced by the European Commission, and regard them as a vital step toward achieving accident- and injury free driving.”

Matthew Avery, Director of Research at Thatcham Research comments: “We fully support these recommendations by the European Commission, especially when it has been proven that technologies such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) can save lives. However, it is up to the UK Government and car makers not to place any blockers on making these technologies mandatory on all UK cars and vans as soon as possible. Seatbelts are mandatory as they save lives. So should AEB.”

Editor’s Note

Led by Global NCAP, the #STOPTHECRASH Partnership includes the ADAC, Bosch, Consumers International, Continental, Denso, ITT, Thatcham Research, Veoneer, ZF Group and the Towards Zero Foundation. All are united in their shared commitment to promote advanced vehicle safety technologies in support of the UN’s Global Goals and the Decade of Action for Road Safety.