Top Safety Tech Saving Lives in Australia and New Zealand
WORDS BY ANBY ALCOMENDAS
A
new study from the Monash University Accident Research Centre( MUARC) shows that advanced vehicle safety technology could prevent thousands of deaths and serious injuries in Australia and New Zealand. The research highlights the systems most effective at reducing crashes, drawing on local crash data while also aligning with Europe’ s General Safety Regulation 2019 / 2144( GSR2).
By analysing which technologies would bring the greatest safety improvements, the study provides a roadmap for future regulation in both countries. The findings suggest that while the challenges differ, the benefits of smarter safety systems are clear on both sides of the Tasman.
Road Safety and Fleet Challenges
Despite years of progress, road trauma remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and injury in both Australia and New Zealand. Speeding, alcohol impairment, fatigue, and driver error continue to be major contributors to serious crashes.
One of the biggest challenges is the age of the vehicle fleets. In Australia, the average age of a light passenger car is 9.8 years, while in New Zealand the average is 14.4 years. Many New Zealand vehicles are second-hand imports, meaning safety features common in newer models are often missing. This creates a slower turnover in safety upgrades compared to Europe, where stricter regulations are already in place.
According to Dr Angelo D’ Elia, MUARC research fellow and lead author, the study shows that by prioritising the right technologies, both countries can make meaningful progress.
“ Our research shows that adopting advanced vehicle safety technologies can make a significant difference in reducing road trauma,” he said.
Key Safety Tech for Light Vehicles
The study identifies several technologies that would bring the most significant safety gains if introduced more widely. While the specific ranking differs between Australia and New Zealand, there is broad overlap in the systems that matter most.
• Intelligent Speed Assistance( ISA): Helps drivers keep to the speed limit by using GPS and camera data. Given that speeding is a factor in a large share of crashes, ISA directly tackles one of the most persistent risks.
• Driver Drowsiness Detection: Fatigue is often underestimated as a danger on the road. This technology monitors signs of tiredness and issues alerts before a driver’ s ability drops too far.
• Autonomous Emergency Braking( AEB): In New Zealand, the greatest benefit is from AEB systems designed to detect pedestrians and cyclists. In Australia, AEB is already mandated for new vehicles, making it a key step forward.
• Alcohol Interlock Installation: Especially relevant for Australia, these devices prevent vehicles from starting if the driver has alcohol in their system. They are a direct barrier against drink-driving.
• Lane Keeping Assist: Helps prevent vehicles from drifting out of their lane. With distracted driving and fatigue being common causes of lane departure crashes, this feature addresses a frequent source of road trauma.
• Adult Head-to-Windscreen Protection: Highlighted for New Zealand, this safety measure reduces the severity of head injuries in collisions.
While each country has its priorities, the overall message is the same: proven safety technologies can address the main causes of serious crashes.
Heavy Vehicle Safety
The report also highlights the unique risks posed by heavy vehicles. Trucks and buses are involved in fewer crashes overall, but when accidents happen, the consequences are often severe.
For heavy vehicles in Australia, Direct Vision and Vulnerable Road User Detection is identified as the top future priority. These technologies improve drivers’ ability to see cyclists, pedestrians, and smaller vehicles in blind spots, significantly reducing the risk of collisions in urban areas.
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