Ever since the introduction of Europe-wide NCAP crash tests,car safety and the protection of occupants have improved steadily. Most tests are carried out as head-on collisions with an offset of 50%. But out on the road,most accidents occur with a much smaller offset. The problem is that the parts of the chassis specially put in place to absorb impact are ineffective. The German Automobile Association simulates accidents with a 20% offset,showing how changes to the chassis could make a car safer.