The lobby group ‘Stop the Crash’ is calling on motorists and the car industry to do more to increase the take-up of vehicle safety technologies such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
In a press release issued today (4 May), the multi-stakeholder partnership* – which advocates the more widespread use of of crash avoidance technologies – says that if motorists apply pressure by demonstrating that safety is a ‘deal-breaker’, more manufacturers would be encouraged to fit safety technology as standard.
The call follows a consumer study of 2,000 motorists in which 80% of respondents said safety technologies are important when buying a car, but a fifth indicated they were not willing to pay extra for them. In addition, 83% of respondents said the best safety options should be fitted as standard.
Stop the Crash says the take up of safety options remains low, at just 3.5%, and has launched a new three point plan to ‘inspire urgent industry action’ to address this.
The plan centres around AEB being fitted as standard, but also calls for vehicles with safety features to be more readily available at dealerships. It also encourages manufacturers to invest more in training to enable showroom staff to fully explain safety technologies to consumers.
Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham Research, said: “There’s an urgent need to change the consumer mind-set to negotiate for the inclusion of additional safety options, if not standard, just as we would with other consumables or features. Especially when they can cost as little as £200.
“Safety should be a deal-breaker, not a nice to have.”
David Ward, chairman of the Stop the Crash Partnership said, “Consumer awareness is critical for the adoption of Stop the Crash technologies.
“This research shows how important safety is to the consumer, but highlights how this often fails to translate into safety options being purchased in the showroom. Manufacturers must offer safety systems with proven ability to save lives as standard.”
*Stop the Crash partners include Thatcham Research, Bosch UK, Continental Tyres UK and ZF TRW.
I doubt if a boy racer would voluntarily switch to an auto anyway David, as no doubt he would regard it as uncool. Peer pressure no doubt would play a part as well, as one’s ‘wheels’ play a part in the car culture of some young males.
I was thinking more of the slightly older, settled driver for whom convention has always led them to drive a manual, without them being aware of, or having given consideration to the virtues of an auto and how it can lead to a more restrained and accident-free driving.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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Hows about intelligent systems which would allow vehicles to travel uninterrupted but at speeds that take account of the too close a proximity of other vehicles? In that case there would be no tailgating as the intelligent system would keep safe distance between all vehicles and thus collisions would not happen. And all this at speeds up to and over 70 mph.
gill craven
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We also need to “inspire urgent government action” on Intelligent Speed Assistance – leaving it to the industry is not enough …
Andrew Fraser Stirling Scotland UK
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Hugh, as a driver of both manual and automatic cars, I don’t see how a slushbox can have that effect on a driver.
If someone can’t be trusted in a manual, what brings about the idea that giving a boy racer an automatic will calm them down? Effective use of kickdown can take a car to stupid speeds in towns very quickly – in fact, quicker than most manuals.
David Weston, Corby
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Perhaps the only safety technology that should be allowed, and indeed made compulsory, should be a “Tullock’s spike”. It is certainly the cheapest and probably the most effective available.
Charles, England
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What’s the point in having systems that would stop a car from up to 20 mph only which is not even at town driving speeds?
g craven
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Before we get to the hi-tech safety add-ons, how about phasing out the manual gearbox/clutch combination – it’s an anachronism amongst the
level of sophistication and refinement that everyday cars have now reached. I think automatics tend to induce better, smoother driving, less speeding and tailgating and improved safety margins with left-foot braking.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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