If you are still coming to terms with your ABS systems and your NCAP safety ratings, then be prepared for a brand new safety acronym, APROSYS. It stands for Advanced Protection Systems and is a new safety feature developed with €29 million of EU taxpayers money.

The idea is to automatically boost the side protection strength of cars about to sustain a side impact with another vehicle. It uses a multi-directional camera to monitor 20 meters around the car, identifying any collision risk 200 milliseconds before impact. It then uses on-board computer systems to heat a ‘shape memory’ alloy, which in turn triggers steel bolt metal boxes to activate stabilising the car door and absorbing the energy of a collision.

The European Commission is likely to make such technology compulsory on new vehicles once it is perfected.