Drivers and passengers are being protected thanks to the introduction of the BSI Kitemark for vehicle body repair, according to new crash test results.

Not only was Exway the first car accident repair specialist in the South West to be awarded the prestigious BSI Kitemark, it was the first collision repair group in the whole country to receive the Kitemark for all of its repair centres.

A recent series of crash tests has shown that poorly repaired vehicles could make their Euro NCAP safety rating null and void should they be involved in another accident, while cars repaired properly continued to offer optimum protection.

Results showed that a poorly repaired vehicle failed in key areas, allowing over 70% more intrusion into the passenger compartment.

The tests were conducted by The British Standards Institution (BSI) and Thatcham, the research organisation funded by British insurers.

According to Thatcham, the failings highlighted by the tests would double the risk of serious injury - particularly in the chest area - and could prove to be fatal.

The Kitemark scheme for car accident repairs was designed to reassure motorists that their car has been repaired to the highest and safest standards available. The Kitemark is the UK’s premier symbol of quality that is trusted and respected by adults throughout the country.

Motoring journalist, Quentin Willson, who supported the call for the crash tests, said he was shocked by the results. “This landmark test proves that badly repaired cars can literally cost lives.”

“The increased forces on the chest and cabin intrusion suffered by the driver in the poorly repaired car would have significantly increased the risk of serious internal injuries,” said Willson.

“The Kitemark scheme for car accident repair provides the UK with a uniform standard of body repair and training people that will undoubtedly save lives,” he added.

Jason Moseley, Thatcham’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “With exotic metals, hi-tech braking systems, and a choice of 400 different types of materials used in their construction, modern cars bear more resemblance to jet aircraft than the models on sale five or ten years ago.

“We wanted proof positive of what we had suspected all along – and these tests have done just that,” he said. “The importance of repairing a car with correct materials and methods could not be starker.

“It’s been the age old conundrum - new cars are given a robust trustworthy safety rating - but do they come up to scratch and offer the same protection after being repaired?,” said Moseley. “They might look okay, but what would happen if involved in another serious accident?”

He said: “With our help, British repairers like Exway have been making great strides to keep ahead of the innovation in car manufacture.”

Exway has supported the BSI Kitemark scheme ever since it was first announced in 2007. Exway recognised that a single common repair standard dealing specifically with processes and procedures in the repair of accident-damaged vehicles would help to raise standards within the industry - and could also help to change motorists’ perception of bodyshops.

Trevor Barefoot, founder and managing director of Exway, said: “The BSI Kitemark is recognised by the public as a standard they can trust. Being able to display the Kitemark at every one of our sites is a tangible reminder for customers that they can be confident that our personnel, repair methods, materials, equipment and management processes are of the highest standard.”