| It would appear that in a study published recently by | | | | BMW the strong passenger cell protected the |
| Auto Express Magazine and Euro NCAP that Citroen | | | | occupants well under pressure conditions. Again, like |
| and BMW make some of the safest cars on the road. | | | | the BMW the protection for children was good with a |
| This study was part of an ongoing constant appraisal | | | | four out of five rating overall. |
| that Euro NCAP carry out to constantly monitor | | | | This is probably not surprising but neither of the cars |
| Automobile safety. | | | | were that good when it came to protection for any |
| Euro NCAP was established in 1997 and now backed | | | | pedestrians accidentally involved in any incident etc. |
| by five European Governments it is fast becoming the | | | | I suppose the moral of the story is try not to run into a |
| premier authority on Automobile Safety within the | | | | BMW at speed if it is travelling the other way and you |
| European Union. | | | | are a pedestrian. Funny, I could have told them that. |
| It is supported by motor organisations within the | | | | Matt Johnson of the joint sponsors of the study Auto |
| various member countries of the EU and (as they say) | | | | Express said “if the worst does occur to count on |
| has rapidly become the catalyst for encouraging major | | | | the road, you'll want to be in the homework will protect |
| improvements with regards to Automobile Safety and | | | | you and your family." Makes sense to me. |
| Design. | | | | “Cars have got significantly safer over recent |
| So it would appear that they have a rough idea of the | | | | years thanks to these independent crash tests. A |
| plot, certainly one would hope so and I think in this case | | | | models safety rating is a major factor people consider |
| they do | | | | when choosing a new car.” |
| For BMW their safest option (so to speak) was the 3 | | | | “Many cars now score a full five stars [in eight |
| Series whilst for Citroen their safest vehicle was the | | | | categories]. But within this band some do better than |
| Citroen C4. | | | | others and our list separates out the very top |
| For BMW the overall opinion was that the new | | | | performing cars.” |
| 3-series achieved five stars (out of five) for protecting | | | | “These are the ones which Euro NCAP reckons |
| its adult occupants. Under crash simulation conditions | | | | offers the very highest level of safety for their class |
| the main body cell held up under pressure and | | | | and is something car buyers should be aware of." |
| protected all of its occupants. An intelligent seat belt | | | | As had been discussed in the media, both sponsors of |
| system was in place and this meant that protection for | | | | this study were concerned that safety is now of such |
| Children was extremely good (4 stars out of 5) | | | | paramount concern that it is essential that as many |
| With regards to the Citroen C4 the jury felt that it was | | | | prospective buyers of cars are aware of safety |
| a strong performing car deserving of its five star rating | | | | issues overall. |
| (out of five) for occupant protection. Again like the | | | | |