A new European Directive to make protection for pedestrians compulsory will apply to new cars and car-derived vans under 2.5 tonnes. From 2005 all new models in these categories will need to have approved pedestrian protection, as will existing models from 2012. the latter provision suggests the creation towards the end of the coming decade of an aftersales market for retro-fitment of pedestrian-friendly front-end fittings. When fully implemented the new Directive is intended to reduce pedestrian casualties by up to 20%.

The new Directive will mean that new car models will be subjected to a series of technical tests which would indicate how they would interact with a pedestrian in an accident.