After many years seeing the number of lives lost on our roads decrease, the trend has reversed and the number of Aussies dying in crashes is increasing.
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ANCAP research has shown the age and relative safety of a vehicle is a likely contributor.
We often pick a new car based on how it looks or how much it costs, but a new safety campaign is urging all of us to think about how the vehicle we buy might fare in a crash.
Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey today launched The Safer Vehicle Choices Save Lives campaign, in partnership with ANCAP and the NRMA, encouraging us to put safety, not looks, first when choosing a new car.
“Most road safety campaigns have focused on behavioural factors such as speed, fatigue, drink driving and seatbelt use. While they remain vital, this campaign highlights the importance of choosing a safer vehicle,” Mrs Pavey said.
Nearly 80 per cent of young drivers under 20 who died and 71 per cent of those seriously injured in car crashes in the past five years were driving cars older than 10 years. Around 45 per cent of those who died were driving vehicles at least 15 years old.
Over the past three years, the average age of vehicles in Australia remained constant at 9.8 years, yet in 2015, the average age of a vehicle involved in a fatal crash was 12.5 years. This rose to 12.9 years in 2016 and further, to 13.1 years in 2017.
The risk of a fatality in a vehicle 15 years or older is four times greater than in a car less than 5 years old
“This is the first campaign of its kind, where the vehicle is profiled as being the life-saving factor in a crash,” said ANCAP Chief Executive, Mr James Goodwin.
ANCAP’s top choice safer cars under $9,000 (five years and under)
- 2013 Mazda 3
- 2014 Ford Mondeo
- 2014 Holden Commodore
- 2014 Hyundai i30
- 2014 Toyota Corolla
- 2016 Kia Rio