International Technical Conference on enhanced safety of vehicles.

I would like to relate my impressions from attending the International Technical Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles held in Washington DC in June 2005. Over 30 Australian experts and students attended the conference this year. Australia is regarded as one of the world’s leaders in vehicle safety, with very strong participation in ESV conferences. The major portion of this reputation can be attributed to the Australian NCAP program that to a large extent rejuvenated focus on vehicle crashworthiness safety around the world. This reputation was also established on the basis of the introduction of Australian Design Rules (ADR’s), regulations and standards that have led other countries in terms of vehicle crashworthiness and safety such as: bus rollover, seat anchorage and lap sash seat belt requirements; mandatory seat belt wearing; and child restraint systems to name a few.