Source : ANCAP YouTube Video
Alarmingly , crash experts know that a vehicle that merely meets the Australian Design Rules ( ADRs ) would achieve a rating of only 1.3 stars . Harmonisation of standards internationally to allow vehicle importation has forced ADRs to significantly lag behind world ’ s best practice vehicle safety by a significant amount . This in turn is why , critically for all vehicle occupants who have survived a crash , ANCAP has had a greater effect in raising a vehicle ’ s safety standard than ADRs . Regrettably , calls to raise ( or even introduce ) the crashworthiness ( e . g . roof crush ) and driver safety assist ADR performance levels ( e . g . Automatic Electronic Braking AEB ) of imported vehicles continues to fall on deaf regulatory ears . This is why fleet purchase managers play a crucial role here , ensuring any new vehicles purchased are 5-star ANCAP rated , and why Australian Federal and State governments need to continue assisting with co-funding ANCAP .
Interestingly , the ARRB submission notes “ Research estimates that in Australia there are 19,000 businesses operating fleets with 20 vehicles or more , totalling 2,162,000 vehicles and there are an additional 400,000 businesses running fleets of less than 20 vehicles . In addition to general consumer demand , our commercial fleets will have tremendous influence over the vehicles which will emerge in the new car market and will then trickle into the used car market . It is imperative to empower fleet managers to purchase 5-star cars if we are to be successful in driving the road toll down toward Zero .”
However , ultimately it is the responsibility of Federal and State Governments to do all in their power to rid our roads of 3-star or less vehicles , particularly the 0 and 1-star ones which in fact are no more than ‘ coffins on wheels ’. Preventing such low star new and used vehicles from being , imported , sold and registered is essential if Australia is to achieve its ambitious target of reaching 50 % reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2030 .
ISSUE 31 OCTOBER 2021 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU 9