‘Cars that can’t crash’ unveiled by Thatcham

It sounds like a sci-fi fantasy – cars that can’t crash! But the fictional notion is about to become reality thanks to new technologies being fitted to vehicles driven in Britain – that in time could save more than 125,000 injuries each year.

Thatcham – the insurer funded research centre – unveiled three revolutionary systems at a major European media conference held at The Transport Research Laboratory (Tuesday February 12th).

The systems mitigate and in some cases prevent low speed shunts and collisions – the most common type of accident – which creates billions of pounds worth of damage to vehicles and untold pain and misery to motorists and their passengers.

This type of accident makes up no less than 75 percent of all motor accidents.

Thatcham – the not for profit organisation which strives to make vehicles safer – has been putting the cutting edge technologies to the test.

So are crash test dummies heading for the employment centre or an early retirement in the sun?

Matthew Avery, Thatcham Research Manager – Crash, said: “These systems are a massive breakthrough for keeping motorists safe. Vehicle manufacturers should be congratulated for developing and introducing this technology which is significant for the safety of all UK road users.

Collision avoidance systems represent the future of accident and injury reduction on UK roads.

“They will make a major impact on the number of slow speed accidents – in Britain and across the World.

“Thatcham believes that if manufacturers embrace the new systems and fit them as standard – more than 125,000 injuries will be prevented each year in Britain alone.

“It will take a number of years before enough cars in the UK ‘car parc’ are fitted with the technology – but once a threshold is reached injury figures will tumble.

“Most accidents involve two or more vehicles – so every car fitted with the kit can save damage and injury to multiples of others.”

Thatcham has been evaluating three different systems:

The Volvo City Safety – which will be fitted as standard to their XC60 which will be on sale from November.

The system is active at up to 20 mph. It uses a form of laser radar (LIDAR) mounted in top of the windscreen. It is programmed to respond if the vehicle in front is either at a standstill or is moving in the same direction as the car itself.

The brakes are pre-charged and should a collision be imminent it applies them and cuts the throttle.

If the car is travelling below 10mph it should prevent the collision entirely and at a speed of up to 20 mph will reduce the impact by 50%.

The Mercedes Distronic Plus is currently available on some S-class models. It uses two radar systems linked to the car’s cruise control system to maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front.

It provides a continual calculation of the distance between the vehicle in front and the speed differential between them and will bring the car to a complete stop if necessary.

The Honda CMBS currently on the CR-V is a radar system that again calculates the distance and the speed differential with the vehicle in front. Should this become out of kilter the driver receives visual and audible warnings before brakes are progressively activated. Seat belts are also tightened to alert the driver of an impending problem and lessen any resulting injuries.

Commenting on Thatcham test results Matthew Avery said: “All three systems offer enhanced protection – the Volvo in particular impressed because of its autonomous operation and the fact that it intervened at the last second and can completely avoid a crash.

“It is imperative that driver vigilance is not lowered by the inclusion of such systems in their vehicles.

“These systems should not allow the driver to compensate – and take additional risks.

“The car is not the driver – the driver drives the car.

“This is just the beginning of the collision avoidance revolution. We will see systems that can detect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users and even steer the car to avoid a crash.”