Small cars do well in crash tests but big names low on pedestrian safety.

(From Irish Independent)

SMALL cars can score big on crash safety, latest test results reveal.

But many big names are doing abysmally low on pedestrians' safety, new figures claim.

Yet carmakers are to attempt to water down a European directive on vehicle design that would prevent more than 1,500 pedestrians from being killed or seriously injured each year.

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) are pressing the European Commission to abolish one of the crash tests due to be introduced under new regulations. They believe the regulations will force them to add costs in altering designs of bonnets and bumpers to make them …