Euro NCAP marks 20th anniversary of life-saving crash tests

More than 78,000 lives have been saved since Euro NCAP's tough crash safety tests were launched 20 years ago this week. Today, Euro NCAP reveals it has published over 630 safety ratings, crash-tested some 1,800 cars and collectively spent over $243 million to make cars safer.

The first tests exposed safety failings in top-selling family cars, forcing a fundamental rethink in the way vehicles were designed to prevent accidents and save lives. 20 years on, nine out of 10 cars sold on the European market hold a Euro NCAP rating and the motor industry actively supports the development of new requirements for top safety ratings.

Today, the results of crash tests between two family cars built 20 years apart underline the huge advances in vehicle safety since 1997. Safety technologies that were once non-existent or optional at best - such as driver and passenger airbags, side protection airbags, belt reminders and electronic stability control - are now standard on all cars sold in Europe.