TRW Automotive Aftermarket has declared its 2013 ‘Safety Days’ at the Nurburgring, Germany a huge success.

explained TRW’s Soeren Kristensen, TRW’s global marketing services manager. “The events which supported TRW’s commitment to promoting driver and pedestrian safety attracted so much interest that next year we will offer a greater number of places.”

“As the leading Corner Module supplier, we highlighted the benefits of driving a vehicle equipped with components that are fitted at OE level, when the vehicle is new. We also showed the importance of regular testing by a qualified technician and the dangers of driving with deficient parts.”

Following a tour of TRW’s manufacturing facility, the visitors took part in practical safety training exercises which simulated real life conditions to highlight potentially dangerous driving situations, including: emergency braking with TRW Cotec brake pads; the importance of braking system maintenance; the effects of worn shock absorbers and braking in an emergency situation while cornering.

“Of particular significance was the live demonstration to test the stopping distances of a car with TRW’s brake pad coating, Cotec, and one without,” Soeren explained. “Both vehicles, travelling at the same speed, were halted by engineers with a remote-less key stop. The car fitted with Cotec stopped approximately seven metres before the car without.”

“And witnessing how even a relative common technology such as Electronic Stability Control (ESP) won’t stabilise a badly maintained vehicle in an emergency situation, was a real eye opener for the visitors,” he added.

The events coincided with the 2013 VLN racing Championship at the famous Nurburgring where visitors watched more than 190 vehicles on the grid in a four hour race; illustrating the rapid growth of the global vehicle parc. They also experienced the famous ‘Nordschleife’ or ‘Green Hell Legend’ racing track as the passenger of a veteran driving instructor; truly a once in a lifetime experience.

“Improving road safety is s an industry wide responsibility. And for our part, we take this very seriously. The rate at which the global car parc is growing and changing means we need to create ever greater awareness of technological and component development and the role they play in safety crucial situations,” Soeren concluded.