Assessment of Integrated Vehicle Safety Systems for improved vehicle safety (ASSESS)

Research Project, 2009 – 2012

"ASSESS mobilises the European research community and car industry to develop a relevant set of test and assessment methods applicable to a wide range of integrated vehicle safety systems. Methods will be developed for driver behavioural aspects, pre crash sensing performance and crash performance under conditions influenced by pre crash driver and vehicle actions. The gained know-how will be implemented in proposals for test and assessment procedures that will be evaluated on the basis of actual systems currently offered to the market. ASSESS aims to stimulate the introduction of new crucial technologies in vehicles to further reduce road fatalities and injuries to car occupants in Europe and to make the traffic environment safer for road users. The project also aims to increase the level of competitiveness of the European automobile industry; safety is a proven selling point. This is underlined by a substantial involvement of European car industry (OEM's and suppliers) in this project and their willingness to provide systems and relevant know-how to this project.

Specific project goals to develop harmonized and standardized assessment procedures and related tools for selected integrated safety systems. Procedures will be developed for driver behaviour evaluation, pre crash system performance evaluation, crash performance evaluation and socio economic assessment.
To create acceptance and accelerate the implementation of the results in test and assessment procedures for type approval and consumer rating purposes, an advisory board consisting of leading EU OEMs, EuroNCAP and UTAC will be consulted on an annual basis or more often when needed. The direct involvement of EuroNCAP will raise the public awareness of the benefits of these new advanced safety systems by means of easy understandable rating systems.
To provide and overview of legal barriers that obstruct the introduction of such systems and the potential socio-economic benefits of selected systems"