CHECK SAFETY RATING OF NEW CARS URGES RSA ON SCRAPPAGE SCHEME

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has today Sunday 17th January 2010 recommended that anyone considering buying a new car under the Government’s car scrappage scheme should examine closely information about the safety performance of the car before buying.
 
The best source of such information is the European New Car Assessment Programme or Euro NCAP. Euro NCAP provides a realistic and independent measurement of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe by rating their performance in crash testing. Consumers then have the opportunity to compare the safety performance of similar sized vehicles with their chosen car.

Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority offered the following advice, “If you are thinking of buying a new car be sure to ask the dealer about the car’s Euro NCAP rating before making a decision to buy.”

For anyone looking for information on the European New Car Assessment Programme or Euro NCAP the RSA has produced a handy leaflet which can be downloaded from www.rsa.ie or by following the link - http://www.rsa.ie/publication/publication/upload/euro_cap_App_version.pdf – insert link. Or visit www.euroncap.com to view the ratings given to cars following crash testing by Euro NCAP.

Ends

For further information, please contact:
The Communications Office, Road Safety Authority – 096 25008

Editors Notes:
Established in 1997, Euro NCAP it is backed by seven European Governments, the European Commission and motoring and consumer organisations in every EU country.

By law, all new car models must pass certain safety tests before they are sold. But legislation provides a minimum statutory standard of safety for new cars, it is the aim of Euro NCAP to encourage manufacturers to go beyond these minimum requirements.

Cars are given a score based on crash tests that access: Adult Protection, Child Protection, and Pedestrian Protection. Scores are also given if ‘Safety Assist’ features are available on the car (such as speed limiters and the standard fitment of Electronic Stability Control / ESC).

The Government Scrappage scheme will run from January 1st for one year. Cars eligible for scrappage must have been registered to the owner for at least 18 months prior to scrappage and must be scrapped 60 days before or after the new car is registered. The used car must have a valid NCT certificate or one that expired less than 90 days before being scrapped. It will however, apply to cars that failed the NCT test within the previous six months. Finally the cars must have been insured for at least 12 months in the 18 months prior to being scrapped.