Safer Cars Gaining Ground Among Buyers in Australia

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program says Australians are choosing to buy safer vehicles, with more than 70% of those sold last year having a 4- or 5-star rating.

ANCAP says in a statement the results, collected by global automotive data collection agency R.L. Polk, reflect the growing demand among Australian motorists for safer vehicles.

Australian safety agency notes uptick in sales of crash-worthy cars.

The Polk data shows 33.38% of sales had a 5-star rating. Four-star cars accounted for 37.6%; 3-star 7.94%; 2-star 0.37%; and 1-star just 0.14% of the market.

Polk was unable to determine the ratings for 20.56% of sales.

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport Catherine King says the Australian government and ANCAP hail Australian auto makers and dealers for responding to consumer preferences and contributing to road safety.

“Consumers are demanding safer vehicles on our roads, and these figures send a message to manufacturers about Australian road users’ central focus on road safety,” King says in a statement.

The Australian government earlier this year strengthened its fleet-purchasing guidelines to ensure new vehicles purchased have high safety ratings. King says the central government wants the states and territories to enact similar guidelines.

“Fleet sales account for around half of all new vehicles sold each year, so such purchasing policies do influence manufacturers and distributors in the kinds of vehicle they produce and bring onto the market,” she says.

“Purchasing 5-star fleet vehicles also has a flow-on effect, as these fleet vehicles are normally resold after two or three years, providing benefits for Australian motorists looking for safer used vehicles.”

ANCAP Chairman Lauchlan McIntosh says the Polk data shows most consumers are making safety a priority when purchasing a new car.

“Buying a new car is one of the biggest decisions for an individual or family,” McIntosh says. “It is pleasing to see the increase in 4- and 5-star vehicles being sold each year.

“We look forward to the day when that figure of 71% for 4- and 5-star cars approaches closer to 100% – safer vehicles save lives and reduce the incidence of road trauma and tragedy for road users, their families and the whole Australian community.”

The Australian government joined ANCAP in May 2010 and is giving the organization A$5 million ($5.2 million) in the period 2009-2010 to 2013-14 to expand its crash-test program.