The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a European car safety performance assessment programme founded in 1997 by the Transport Research Laboratory for the UK Department for Transport and now the standard throughout Western Europe. Euro NCAP is backed by the governments of UK, France, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, Luxemburg and Spain, as well as insurance, motoring and consumer organisations. Euro NCAP publishes safety reports on new cars, and awards 'star ratings' based on the performance of the vehicles in a variety of crash tests, including front, side and pole impacts, and impacts with pedestrians. Furthermore it promotes Electronic Stability Control, Seat Belt Reminders and Speed limiters. The top overall rating is five stars.