European vehicle passive safety network

The general objective of the European Vehicle Passive Safety Network is to contribute to the reduction of the number of road traffic victims in Europe by passive safety measures. The aim of the road safety policy of the European Commission is to reduce the annual total of fatalities to 18000 in 2010. The Thematic Network represents a unique co-operation of more than thirty experienced and multidisciplinary partners from almost all EU countries. Major car manufacturers, suppliers of safety systems, research institutes and universities active in the field of passive safety are part of the network. The basis of the network is the linkage between a number of Community funded projects in the field of passive safety, but also results of important national funded projects and future EU funded projects will be brought into the network. The network objectives are: 1. to identify linkages among the involved projects 2. to favour project integration and research harmonisation thus improving synergy 3. to facilitate technology transfer and result analysis 4. to identify 'white spots' and initiate new R&TD projects; in view of supporting the network projects in achieving their targets and supporting the general strategic EC target. A separate objective of the network is: a. to develop a future strategy with respect to vehicle passive safety. These goals will be achieved through workshops, conferences, exchange and training of personnel, network meetings, reports and a demonstrator by means of a website (http://www.passivesafety.com).