New safety award to highlight life-saving engineering design innovations

07 Oct 2000

Recognising safety as one of the biggest issues driving car design today, the Motor Show Awards, supported by the SMMT and held at the British International Motor Show, has introduced a Safety Award for the vehicle on show which demonstrates the best life-saving engineering design innovations.

David Burnicle, vice president, Institute of Vehicle Engineers, who are organising the judging, comments: "Competition for this new award will be intense. Our judges will have a hard job in selecting the winner as all new cars on display at the show will demonstrate high levels of safety features and equipment."

Mr Burnicle continues: "What the judges will be looking for is improvements and enhancements of primary safety features – standard on most new cars - such as second generation ABS, dynamic stability control systems, new tyre and wheel configurations and better lighting. In addition, our judges will be looking at secondary safety features such as child security, luggage security and advanced airbag systems."

Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the SMMT, said: "Manufacturers today are working hard to design cars that will help protect the lives of both motorists and pedestrians. As an organisation, we believe it is important to recognise and highlight any engineering and design innovation that improves both active and passive safety - technical features that are now becoming the key differentiator in a highly competitive market – and so are delighted to support the introduction of the Safety Award."

With continuing support from Corus, the new multi-metals company formed by the merger of British Steel and Koninklijke Hoogovens, the Safety Award along with 22 other awards will be presented to the winning manufacturers at a prestigious Gala Dinner on Wednesday 18 October. In addition to the new Safety Award, manufacturers will be vying for the coveted ‘Car of the Show Award’, won in 1998 by Jaguar’s S-type, and the ‘Environmental Award’ won by the Toyota Prius

John Kavanagh, responsible for Automotive Communications at Corus comments: "We are aware of the critical role materials can play in helping vehicle manufacturers design safer cars. Corus is committed to pushing forward the boundaries of how metals are used particularly in safety critical applications. By working in partnership with the design engineer we aim to provide innovative material solutions to proactively meet the challenges faced by the automotive industry."

For more information, please contact Lisa Hillary

Tee 020-7539 2671