Critics Want to Put Brakes on Oz Crash-Test Program

The Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) has come to the defense of the Australian operation after suggestions the program is no longer needed.

Global NCAP Secretary-General David Ward says he’s disappointed by media coverage across Australia critical of the work undertaken by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), which has been publishing crash-test results since 1993.

“The lifesaving role of new-car assessment programs is well-established in all world regions and a key contributor to the current UN Decade of Action for Road Safety,” Ward says in a statement.

“Global NCAP is baffled by the recent negative comments made in the Australian media about ANCAP when, in fact, it has made a huge contribution to reducing road trauma at home in Australia and is also a strong partner with the other nine established NCAPs around the world.

 “Thanks to ANCAP and its simplicity of message, Australian consumers now consider safety as the primary factor when buying a new car,” he says.

ANCAP through its affiliation with Global NCAP also has assisted the development of new NCAPs in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

“Unfortunately today new cars are still being sold that are specified differently for different markets, with key safety technologies sometimes missing,” Ward says.

“In unregulated emerging markets models are sold that would fail to meet even the minimum UN crash-test standards. NCAPs are on the front line of improved vehicle safety and without them the huge improvements in car safety seen over the last 30 years would not have happened.”

The debate began when Fairfax Media’s drive.com.au website suggested ANCAP might not be needed with production of local models by GM Holden, Toyota and Ford ending by 2017.

It says ANCAP does not have federal government funding beyond then and lacks strong support from the automotive industry.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, representing the car companies, tells drive.com.au the time for local crash testing may be over.

“With the globalization of the automotive industry and the harmonization of Australian Design Rules with UN regulations, the FCAI questions the continuing relevance of a separate NCAP in Australia,” she says.

ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh is quoted as saying the Melbourne-developed Ford Ranger pickup is a classic example of why ANCAP is needed.

He says Ford offers first-class safety features in Australia and New Zealand, but the automaker removes lifesaving equipment such as airbags and stability control from vehicles sold in emerging markets.

“The Ford Ranger, for example, is the reason we need to keep testing,” he tells drive.com.au. “We need to make sure we don’t get that rubbish here. We need to be assured that the quality of vehicles that are sold as new cars are at world’s best practice so consumers can see what we’re getting.”