How the UK helped save 15,000 lives.

Some 25 years ago the UK Conservative government boldly decided to do something about the death toll on our roads.  They would set up a proper crash testing procedure.  Up till then all car manufactures had to do was meet a minimum standard.  And they were under no obligation to tell the public of the results of any tests that they did carry out.

In spite of test proposals being strongly resisted by the car industry, in June 1994, the UK Department of Transport proceeded towards the setup of a New Car Assessment Programme in the UK.

In November of 1996, the Swedish National Road Administration (SNRA), the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and International Testing were the first organisations to join the car safety test programme.  This resulted in Euro NCAP being formed. Its inaugural meeting was held in December 1996.

From the beginning, the programme was ambitious and comprehensive.  There was a determination to ensure that the testing and assessment was scientifically based.

For the first phase of tests in 1997, seven super mini sized cars were chosen and the manufacturers were asked to supply information about those cars.  For comparative testing, the tests had to be carried out to a higher standard than was necessary for legislation.  And the public would be told the results. 

The results changed everything.  Some cars like the Rover 100 performed so badly that production ceased. 

On the same day the test results were published, the car manufacturers heavily criticised the NCAP, its tests and its ratings.  One of the many claims was that the assessment criteria were so severe that no car could achieve four stars, for occupant protection.  Scaremongering of the first order. 

But the reality was 4 stars were achievable.  In July 1997, the results from the second phase of tests were published and the Volvo S40 became the first 4-star car for occupant protection.  The impossible was achieved.  Manufactures in pretty short time, started to achieve 4 stars.  And since them it is estimated the tests have saved over 15,000 lives and countless serious injuries avoided.

I tell you this story for two reasons.

First, because it is pertinent to the way we now view the European Union (EU).  Notice how it worked.  The UK led by John Major, decided they would do something to stop needless deaths on the UK roads.  Sweden joined in.  They did something that then was adopted across the whole of Europe.  But in no way was this a creation by the EU.

The difference today is it is now legislation comes from the European Commission (EC) and the European Courts of Justice (ECJ), which is a bit of a weird name for a court that, in effect, is a quasi-parliament in that it effectively makes law, but unlike in any democratic county, without the need for it be scrutinised in a legislative chamber.

Top down, not bottom up, is how the EU and all its institutions work.  No accountability.  Indeed, as the House of Commons library has said, it is possible to justify any figure between 15 and 55 per cent of how much UK law now emanates from the EC, and the ECJ with no UK parliament scrutiny or ability to amend or reject it. 

This is how it works. The European Commission (unelected) creates laws for us.  The UK parliament can only rubber-stamp them.  The whole system is overseen by the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ, and unelected), which has ultimate jurisdiction over our UK parliament and law courts.

Sir Richard Aikens, a judge in the Court of Appeal 2008-15 and Michael Howard take a different approach.  “The idea at the heart of our democracy is not complicated.  At a general election, the voters choose who makes the laws that govern our lives. If governments fail to live up to their promises, the electorate throw them out.” 

Clearly, a majority of those who voted in the EU referendum agree.  That is what we are voting to leave the European Union and all its parts.

And secondly, the case of Volvo.  All the naysayers said 4 stars were impossible.  Which has a certain resonance in the language used by many, particularly on the Labour, Liberal Democrat and SNP benches in the two days of debate in our UK parliament on the triggering of Article 50. 

Actually, it can.  And quite possibly in a lot less than 24 months.  Indeed, the EU's chief negotiator says we have 18 months.

Volvo rose to the challenge and easily achieved 4 stars while many other manufactures dragged their feet moaning about how it could never be done.  But they soon caught on once consumers started changing their buying patterns and were soon regularly performing with 4 stars.

The so called “remoaners” should take heed and learn from Volvo.