ORGANISERS of the European New Car Assessment Programme crash tests have applauded manufacturers for taking safety seriously by showing determination to get good results for their cars. The comments came as the latest Audi A4 became the most recent car to go through the tests, achieving a four-star rating out of a maximum five.

However, the car was criticised for providing a lack of information on the dangers of passenger airbags to children and babies and for doing little to protect pedestrians, with only a one-star rating.

A spokesman for EuroNCAP said: 'We are being approached by manufacturers as soon as their cars are launched wanting us to conduct tests. Manufacturers now accept the value of the tests.' The next full round of tests - on mini-MPVs - will be launched on March 27.