§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what side impact crash testing his Department has commissioned in each of the last three years; [22003]
(2) how much his Department has spent on the United Kingdom's crash test programme in each of the years for which figures are available; [22007]
(3) what assessment he has made of the relative performance in United Kingdom crash tests of different car models; [22005]
(4) if he will place in the Library the results of crash tests undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory; [22004]
(5) if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the United Kingdom's crash test programme; [22008]
(6) what European Union funds or directives apply to the United Kingdom crash test programme; [22006]
(7) what proposals exist to bring in a side impact crash test in the United Kingdom. [22002]
§ Mr. Norris[holding answers 21 March 1996]: The Department's research related to crashworthiness continues to play a considerable role in developing standards for the protection for car occupants in side and front impacts and for pedestrians.
Most of the research on developing the side impact test procedure was carried out from 1979 to 1990. Over the past three years, research has concentrated on two major aspects. Firstly, the development of an improved barrier face which is used to impact the car. Secondly, a study of possible component tests to evaluate more easily the effect of modifications to vehicle components.
Over the last four years, more than £6 million has been spent by the Department on car crash testing activities. These activities have been carried out mostly in collaboration with other countries associated with the European Experimental Vehicles Committee. They include research into the development of test dummies and the design and development of test procedures and deformable barriers associated with frontal and side impact protection.
The spend for the years 1992 to 1996 is as follows:
- 1992–93: £1.58 million
- 1992–94: £1.56 million
- 1994–95: £1.1 million
- 1995–96: £1.9 million.
A further £0.92 million was spent on test procedures for pedestrian protection.
The Department currently has research at the Transport Research Laboratory on the feasibility of a new car assessment programme in which the safety of new models would be evaluated. As part of this longer-term—1995 to 1998—programme, the TRL is currently testing several safety aspects of cars in the supermini class to see if the 389W results offer a reliable indicator of relative performance and how this data could be presented in a simple, meaningful and fair manner.
We will publish the results of this feasibility study and place a copy in the Library in due course. The report on the research will include test results if the comparisons prove fair to manufacturers and can be presented in a helpful and meaningful way.
Currently, funds for the United Kingdom's crash test programme are provided by my Department. EU funding to the value of £130,000 ecu was provided to TRL towards the validation phase of the frontal impact test procedure.
The proposals for a directive on side impact are at the final stages of adoption and my Department will lay regulations to incorporate them into UK law as soon as possible.