Passive safety technologies are used to mitigate injury to people in an accident. In this regard, Mazda does much more than simply comply with the laws of each country and region. We also conduct tests for various types of impacts possible on the road, making steady progress in developing passive technologies for the protection of passengers and drivers. Seatbelts, airbags, active headrests that reduce neck strain from rear impacts, and the Mazda Advanced Impact-energy Distribution and Absorption System that dissipates impact energy throughout the vehicle are all passive safety systems being steadily improved by Mazda.
The Mazda6 (european model) released in January 2008 earned a five-star safety rating in 2009 from Euro NCAP*1he famously strict European general safety review organization for newly released vehicles. Euro NCAP was adjusted in 2009 to make its comprehensive safety-performance evaluation even more severe than before, focusing on four aspects of safety: protection for adult passengers, protection for child passengers, protection for pedestrians and safety support. The Mazda6 was the first vehicle to receive the five-star rating under the new evaluation system. This milestone was not Mazda's first recognition from Euro NCAP.
The European models of the Mazda5 and Mazda2 received five-star ratings in the "protection for adult passengers" category, in 2005 and 2007, respectively. These awards confirm Mazda's solid leadership with the world's highest levels of impact safety.
- *1Euro NCAP: European new Car Assessment programme. An independent body that has been in place since 1997, comprising traffic-related authorities from European countries
