WE COULD save 700 lives a year in the UK if we all drove Renault Lagunas.
Latest results of the European NCAP crash tests show that Renault remains the safest car maker, with both the Laguna and the Megane.
"The Laguna is the only car to have scored the maximum five stars, making it the safest car on the road," says a proud Renault.
"The UK's declining road-death rate could be reduced by a further 40 per cent (about 700 lives) if all cars matched the safety of the Laguna."
Most recent figures for deaths involving car
passengers show around 1,800 fatalities in the UK compared to around 2,600 in 1980 a drop of 30 per cent.
Most deaths occur at above 40 mph. Accidents at lower speeds usually involve only injuries. The Euro NCAP frontal-impact test occurs at 40mph, and the Laguna is the first car that allows the occupant to emerge largely uninjured.
Occupants are kept safe by a combination of up to eight airbags (including 'smart' twin-level inflation airbags which can tell the severity of the impact), seat-belt pretensioners and seat-belt load limiters, collapsing brake pedals and anti-submarining seats. With ABS, brake-assist and electronic tyre-pressure monitoring, the Laguna becomes the safest car on the road.
The Megane, which is now a six-year old model, was confirmed as safest in the 'small family car' class, beating the Peugeot 307 the European Car of the Year and the 2000 winner, the Alfa Romeo 147.
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