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The Thatcham BSI Kitemark® scheme
11 Sep 2009
Topics: Thatcham, Kitemark®
In an ongoing effort to make motorists more aware of the importance of using Kitemark® crash repairers, the consumer launch of the Thatcham BSI Kitemark scheme took place before an enthusiastic audience in June 2009.
Over 365 British repair centres have been awarded the Kitemark since the scheme was launched in 2007. Between them, they are repairing nearly 400,000 cars per year - and that figure is likely to grow as more repairers qualify for the scheme. And with over 480 enterprises in the process of certification, these numbers will continue to rise.
The consumer launch attracted mainstream media coverage, as motoring journalist and Kitemark consumer champion, Quentin Willson and Jason Moseley, COO of Thatcham revealed the results of recent crash tests held at the MIRA independent testing facilities.
The tests showed that poorly repaired cars could make their essential European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) safety rating null and void should they be involved in another accident. A car repaired properly, on the other hand, continued to offer optimum protection. Expert interpretation of the results showed that the poorly repaired vehicle failed in key areas, allowing over 70 per cent more intrusion into the passenger compartment.
"This landmark test proves that badly repaired cars can literally cost lives," says Willson. "The increased G-forces and cabin intrusion suffered by the driver in the poorly repaired car would have caused fatal internal injuries. I was shocked by the results. The Kitemark scheme for car accident repair provides the UK with a uniform standard of repair that will undoubtedly save lives."
"We wanted proof positive of what we had suspected all along. These tests have done just that. The importance of repairing a car with correct materials and methods could not be starker," says Moseley.
For more information, visit: www.kitemark.com
Business Standards © 2010. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with The British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
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