1. EUROPEAN UNION Ageing Europe: Implications for EU Policy Vehicle Safety Adrian Hobbs/ Murray Mackay

2. The Ageing Road User Living longer More mobile Greater wealth Downsizing to smaller cars

3. Vulnerability to Injury Reduced bone strength Osteoporosis Female from 45 - 50 years Male from 55 - 60 years Main bones affected Ribs Upper and Lower Limbs

4. Vulnerability to Injury Less flexible spine Inter-vertebral disc degeneration Increased susceptibility to injury Also Reduced movement

5. Vision & Perception Reduced visual acuity Particularly at dusk Perception errors Looked but didnt see Particularly two-wheelers

6. Recovery from Injury Slow recovery Risk of complications

7. External Influences Downsizing to smaller cars Higher seat belt forces Use of thicker clothing Seat belt slack Travelling in the rear seat Poor seat belt geometry Lack of pretensioners Lack of load limiters Absence of airbags

8. Injury Risk Three times more likely to die in frontal or side impact 286 % increase in aged fatalities predicted

9. Implications for Vehicle Design Safer car fronts Older pedestrian casualties - 50% of pedestrian deaths in OECD countries On arterial roads Unsuitable for pedestrianisation Unsuitable for traffic calming

10. Implications for Vehicle Design EU Directive on safer car fronts High level of protection required by the EU Treaty Needs to implement with certainty the state-of-the-art EEVC crash tests, used by EuroNCAP since 1996 EU Savings: up to 2000 lives for additional costs at design stage @ 30 euros per car

11. Implications for Vehicle Design Improved compatibility Good early structural interaction Improved deceleration pulse Shape Improved protection in small cars

12. Implications for Vehicle Design Day running lights Visibility of two-wheelers to aid perception