Part of consumer protection laws introduced in Europe deal with product liability and consumer safety. As of 1 November 2012 new set of such consumer safety rules came into force in the EU, concerning motor vehicles safety. (Regulation 661/2009) This is good news at a time when European roads slowly start changing into a slippery deathtrap. All new vehicles undergoing a type-approval as of 1 November (and all new vehicles sold as of 2014 in the EU) will need to:- include a safety belt reminder at the driver's seat;
- be fitted with at least two ISOFIX child seat anchorage points in the rear seats;
- be fitted with new labels warning against the placement of rearward facing child restraint systems where the seat has an active frontal airbag;
- fulfil strict electric safety requirements if the vehicle is electric;
- strengthen their rear passenger seats to protect people against displacement of luggage in the boot, in case of frontal car crash;
- provide for an on-board tyre pressure monitoring system warning against loss of air pressure in the tyres;
- be fitted with gear shift indicators to achieve better fuel economy. (Cars safer from 1 November 2012)
