Department for Transport - Transport Technology and Standards

The transport policy context and organisation are indicated by the programme's nine sub-themes:

• Primary Safety: The theme draws together the vehicle engineering aspects which 'as far as possible reduce the risk of an accident occurring'. The theme has three sub-categories; vehicle braking and stability, vision/conspicuity, and electronics. In this theme projects support the Department's commitment to improve vehicle braking, the user understanding of the technology and its application. Supporting the Department's general aim to improve consumer information, a longer term project is investigating the potential to rank vehicles according to their primary safety performance, and develop a dissemination strategy. This work follows the success of the EuroNCAP scheme for ranking cars according to their secondary safety performance. The Department is also committed to develop standards for tyre grip following the introduction of maximum noise limits. This work will undertaken collaboratively at international level and will include the Global Technical Regulation group for tyres. Under the electronics sub-theme is a long-term project to consider the use of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) to reduce accidents and casualties. This project builds upon commitments in the Road Safety Strategy and the Speed policy review and is developing a series of user trials to understand better the behavioural aspects of drivers using this technology.
• Secondary Safety: Car secondary safety offers the greatest potential for reducing the number and severity of casualties from accidents (especially deaths and serious injuries). Secondary safety can be defined 'as all structural and design features that reduce the consequences of accidents as far as possible'. The theme is sub-divided into Biomechanics, Structural Crashworthiness, and Restraint/Safety systems. The theme addresses specific topics such as the crashworthiness of cars, air bags, seat belts & fixings, seating, children safety seats and installation, interior fittings, the protection of pedestrians involved in accidents, motorcycle helmet construction. It also covers the departmental involvement in the EuroNCAP safety tests. This research is providing essential evidence to underpin policy across these areas and is informing negotiations at both national and international levels. Due to the international dimension, however, progress depends upon many factors.
• Heavy Vehic