The Euro NCAP safety ratings are to be overhauled with one single overall grade to come into force next year. At present cars are tested in a number of areas such as adult occupant protection, child occupant protection and pedestrian protection. The European car safety organisation feels this has meant some manufacturers concentrating too heavily passenger protection to the detriment of pedestrian safety.

Euro NCAP’s secretary general Michiel van Ratingen commented, “We’ve seen great advances in the occupant protection of cars since our tests started in 1997. Many models now get a full five stars for adult safety. However, the same can’t be said for pedestrian protection. Maybe the way our rating system works is to blame, as it has allowed firms to publicise only their vehicle’s occupant protection score.”

The new rules will mean that in order for manufacturers to use safety ratings as a major selling point they will need an around high quality safety package and design. This will be especially difficult for higher ridding SUVs to achieve as they currently perform badly in the pedestrian safety tests.

Other changes to the star rating system will see vehicles tested for whiplash protection and bonus marks awarded for accident avoidance systems, such as electronic stability control.