A pioneer in safety, Renault founded the Physiology and Biomechanics Laboratory in 1954 to study the effects of accidents. Fifteen years later, in partnership with PSA Peugeot Citroën, it created the LAB (Laboratory for Accidentology, Biomechanics and the Study of Human Behaviour.

The laboratory employs doctors, engineers, psychologists and sociologists, working in close cooperation. It carries out detailed studies of accidents and human behaviour in emergency situations, along with real and virtual crash tests. These efforts show Renault to be a front-runner in accidentology.

In March 2004, Renault set up a road safety policy department. Using the findings of LAB studies, the 600-strong workforce develops driving aids: emergency brake assistance, stability control, airbags, force limiters, etc. Every year, Renault invests almost €100 million in safety R&D.

As a result of the studies carried out on real accidents over many years, safety – both active and passive – has become a fundamental component of Renault vehicles.

In new markets, Renault adapts its vehicles to local accident mechanisms, which are not the same as in Europe. Logan is one of the safest vehicles on the road in these countries.

The Group is also setting up teams of researchers specializing in accidentology in all the countries where it is present: in Romania with RTR (Renault Technologie Roumanie), and soon in India (Chennai site) and Brazil (Curitiba site).

Renault also seeks to educate people on road safety, through initiatives on seatbelt-wearing, concentration at the wheel or drink-driving. Safety is everybody’s business. It involves not only motorists, but also the Group’s employees and suppliers.