Motor Industry Awarded for ABS

The motor industry has been presented with What Car? magazine’s 2005 readers award, for the voluntary fitting of Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) as standard. Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, collected the award yesterday on behalf of the industry.

Readers voted for initiatives delivered in the past year that made their lives safer, easier or cheaper. The magazine’s editor David Motton said: “Previously, buyers were more likely to spend money on optional extras such as alloy wheels or air-con rather than ABS. Now they no longer have to make that choice and lives will be saved as a result.”

Manufacturers voluntarily agreed to fit ABS to new cars made after 1 July 2004. The introduction of ABS as standard was part of an industry-wide agreement to improve pedestrian protection that also included changes to front-end design and the removal of rigid bull bars, explains the SMMT.

Christopher Macgowan added: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the motor industry. We are committed to improving vehicle safety for occupants and other road users and the introduction of ABS as standard is an important step forward. All road users will benefit from this development because ABS gives drivers greater control in an emergency situation, preventing many accidents happening in the first place.”