EU wants more safety kit as standard, but guess who will pay...

EU estimates that a single fatality in a road traffic accident costs  �1m in medical and emergency service expenses and the wider impact on the economy. Therefore, EU is forcing manufacturers to fit more safety kit as standard, but as CAR estimates, by 2016 the U and Euro NCAP will add around �2,500 to the cost of a car.

Total European road deaths fell to 39,000, but there is almost no chance of the EU hitting its death-toll target (27,000) in 2010. Therefore, it is planning to step up the mandatory fitment of safety devices.

Below is the �2,500 options list the EU is considering to add to our next car:

• 2011 Daytime Running Lights �100 - already confirmed
• 2012 Tyre Pressure Monitoring �100 - already confirmed
• 2012 Stability Control �300 - already confirmed
• 2012 Low Rolling-Resistance Tyres �100 - already confirmed
• 2013 Seat Belt Reminders �100
• 2013 Lane Departure Warning; Automatic Braking �600 total - already confirmed for heavy goods vehicles
• 2014 E-Call Automatic Emergency Service Call-Out �250
• 2014 Emergency Brake Assist �150
• 2015 GPS Speed Limiters �300
• 2016 Pyrotechnic Bonnets �500

Source: Car Magazine - January 2010 issue