PRIORITIES FOR EU MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY DESIGN

15. Improving braking and stability
a) Research would help to ascertain whether anti-lock braking systems alone have a role to
play in accident reduction.
b) Monitoring of braking assistance systems is required to determine how well they can
identify and respond to the driver’s intended braking behaviour and to determine their
accident reduction potential.
c) Monitoring of the dynamic stability systems being made available by car manufacturers is
needed to determine their influence on accident occurrence.
Motorcycle design to improve safety
a) Daytime running lights and anti-lock braking systems should be mandatorily fitted to
motorcycles.
b) Further research is urgently needed:
- to determine seating positions with a relatively high seat elevation and upright body
position to reduce the possibility of lower leg entrapment
- to provide leg protection to protect the wearer from the impact of external forces and
to serve as an element that affects the trajectory in a positive way
- to develop suitable airbags to provide riders with protection in frontal impacts
Heavy goods vehicle design
a) Development of a test specification for energy-absorbing front underrun protection is
needed towards a mandatory fitment requirement.
b) Rear and side underrun protection legislative requirements need to be amended to
reflect needs identified by accident research.
c) An EU Directive is needed to require the compulsory fitment of seat belts in heavy
commercial vehicle cabins
d) EU Directives should be introduced aimed at improved mirror systems and providing
retro-reflective contour marking on heavy commercial vehicles.
Minibus and light van design
a) Seat belt wearing rates are lower in minibuses and light vans than in cars and should be
increased. All existing exemptions should be removed nationally.
b) A mandatory requirement is needed at EU level for the fitment of seat belts.
c) The frontal impact occupant protection requirements should be extended to minibuses
and light vans.
Bus and coach design
a) European requirements need to be developed to enhance the structural integrity of
buses and coaches and their seats, and seat to floor mountings
b) Consideration should be given to improved side glazing to reduce the risk of ejection
without impeding evacuation
c) An EU requirement is needed to fit seat belts to coaches
Alerting the emergency services
a) A uniform EU standard needs to be established to provide a GPS warning signal to
emergency departments.
Crash Investigation Tools
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