French car code helps emergency crews rescue accident victims faster

All new Renault and Dacia cars now come with QR codes on the windscreen and rear window to give emergency services key safety information.

Scanning the code reveals details such as where airbag cartridges are found (to avoid them being punctured during rescues), whether the seats slide, and how they can be moved if the contact switches are off.

Battery location and the safest places to cut the car body are also given.

The codes were first used in 2014 on Renault’s Zoe electric cars after concerns that high-powered electric cables might be cut during rescues.

The system is also used by Mercedes. However, there are no rules making it obligatory, a Renault spokesman said.

Another Renault safety innovation, patented for electric cars, is an oval trap of thin plastic, which allows firefighters to safely squirt water on the battery if it catches fire.

Batteries are often sealed away and can burn for two or three hours.

The plastic trap, which melts if the battery catches fire, usually means the blaze can be extinguished in under 10 minutes.

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