DECEMBER 4, 2003

Recognition for crash-testing

The 2003 Prince Michael International Road Safety Award has gone to the Euro NCAP organisation for its work in improving the safety of new cars through its crash-testing programme. The awards are made by Prince Michael of Kent, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, who is president of the Royal Automobile Club. He is also a fellow of the Institute of the Motor Industry.

"The NCAP star rating system is widely understood - it is used by car companies to market their products - and is undoubtedly an important factor in customer's choice of new cars," said the Prince. "There is no doubt that we now have safer cars and it is widely accepted that the New Car Assessment Programme has made a major contribution to car safety design and to raising awareness amongst the public."

Max Mosley, the president of the FIA, is also president of Euro NCAP.