The BBC's Vanessa Edwards: Researchers carried out three different tests

The announcement follows publication of crash test results that reveal new cars represent a greater danger to pedestrians than older models.

But protection for drivers and passengers inside vehicles showed an improvement in all but two models, according to the European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP).

Neil Kinnock: Seeking "pedestrian protection"

The EU Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock presented the initiative, saying he would put the draft law before the European parliament later this year.

"Although cars are being designed to offer far greater protection for their occupants, pedestrian protection still leaves much to be desired," he said.

The BBC' s Christopher Wain on the latest crash test results

His spokeswoman said the package would include a ban on bull bars, rigid accessories fitted to many four-wheel drive vehicles which significantly increase the chances of death or serious injury for pedestrians by concentrating the point of impact.

"You are never going to come up with a system that protects pedestrians fully but better design and choice of materials used can limit the damage," she said.

Fears for child safety

European consumer groups are also calling for action to protect pedestrians and young children in cars.

"EuroNCAP crash test results ... show that manufacturers are still ignoring the safety of some of the most vulnerable road users, pedestrians and babies, in the design of their cars," said consumer organisations BEUC and ANEC said in a joint statement.

The groups said manufacturers should change designs and provide proper warnings of the "potentially fatal" risk to babies travelling in rear-facing child seats in the front of cars with frontal airbags.

The EuroNCAP programme carried out three tests on new cars - in this case small family hatchbacks - consisting of a 40mph head-on collision, a 30mph side impact and a 25mph test to assess injuries inflicted on pedestrians.

All models except the Japanese Nissan Almera and the popular Ford Escort showed a good standard of driver and passenger protection.

Unacceptably high risk of injury

Crash experts believe that 300 lives could be saved every year in the UK alone - a cut of 14% of crash deaths per year - if certain aspects of new cars were redesigned.

Four new models of small family cars were awarded the top four-star rating in the test results.

But none of the four - the Ford Focus, Mercedes A Class, Opel Astra and Renault Megane - showed very good results on pedestrian safety, EuroNCAP said in a statement.

The Ford Escort was only awarded two stars for occupant saftey, and EuroNCAP said the Nissan Almera presented "an unacceptably high risk of severe injury in at least one critical body area".

The new figures coincide with the launch of the final part of the UK Government's £3.5m anti-speeding campaign on Tuesday.

Road Safety Minister Larry Whitty is unveiling the latest part of the programme, which includes a graphic re-enactment of the effects of a vehicle striking a pedestrian at speed.