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Choosing a safe vehicle can significantly increase your chances of surviving a crash. Newer vehicles have improved safety features, which can even help prevent crashes from happening. It is important to educate your local community members about the importance of making safe choices when buying or riding in vehicles, as it could be the difference between life and death.
Vehicle safety ratings
Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP)
This site provides the public with vehicle safety ratings on new light vehicle models. Structural protection and the ability to actively avoid a crash are essential to achieve a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. The site also includes up-to-date publications and submissions.
Choosing fleet vehicles
Fleet managers should identify what the vehicle will be used for, so they know what features to assess. The ANCAP search allows you to choose from categories such as tradies, fleets, and rural drivers to help filter specific requirements.
Where possible, light fleet vehicles should have a 5-star ANCAP Safety rating with a date stamp of no more than 6 years and fitted with a reverse collision warning.
Used car safety ratings
Older, younger and regional drivers are more likely to drive older vehicles and buy used cars. This means they have a greater risk of being injured in a crash. Campaigns promoting used car safety ratings should target these demographics, persuading people to buy the safest vehicle that they can afford.
The Used Car Safety Ratings brochure lists used vehicle models that are considered safer. The safety rating is indicated by stars, with more stars representing a higher level of safety.
Community education
The NSW Government provides safe vehicle advice to the Australian Government to support the efforts to develop and update technical documents that vehicle manufacturers must comply with. These documents include the Australian Design Rules and the Vehicle Standards Bulletins. The NSW Government also supports vehicle safety initiatives by providing funding and contributing technical expertise.
As a local council, community organisation or business, you’re in a good position to run campaigns about safer vehicle choices in your community. Consider sharing tips and initiatives on your social media and communication channels. Remember to practise what you preach and make safe buying decisions at and outside work.
What is is?
Our road safety technology team currently run a road safety research vehicle called SAFET 1 - a Polestar 2 battery fully electric vehicle. This vehicle contains highly automated features including a Lane Keeping Aid Run-off-Road, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, Automatic Speed Limiter (ASL) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).
What does it do?
This vehicle is used to pilot and test new technologies such as co-operative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS), collision avoidance technology, driver monitoring and automated driving systems.
How does it help us?
The vehicle plays an important role in community engagement and will be present at major events and conferences. Over the past 3 years the vehicles have featured at major agricultural field days such as AgQuip and the Small Farm Field Days in Orange. With almost 70% of fatal crashes occurring on a rural road, technology has an important role to play in improving safety on country roads.
