Safer vehicles and stronger data key to reducing road trauma

Independent vehicle safety advocate, ANCAP SAFETY, welcomes the release of the Australian Government’s Mid-term Review of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 and its recognition of the contribution safer vehicles are making to reducing road trauma.

The Review highlighted improvements in the safety performance of Australia’s light vehicle fleet – a positive shift made possible through ANCAP’s ongoing encouragement of vehicle crash protection and crash prevention features.

“The Review reinforces the critical role safer vehicles play in protecting Australians and acknowledges the progress made through independent vehicle testing, assessment and consumer information,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.

The Review also highlights changing areas of risk, with fatalities increasing more sharply in crashes involving vehicle types other than passenger cars. During the period covered by the Review, fatalities involving light commercial vehicles increased on average by 12.1%. Fatalities involving heavy vehicles increased by 7.2%, while motorcycle-related fatalities increased by 28.3% compared with the baseline period. This compares with an increase of 0.3% in fatalities involving passenger cars.

“These findings show why Australia’s focus on safer vehicles must continue to broaden beyond passenger cars to include commercial vans, light and heavy trucks and motorcycles,” Ms Hoorweg said.

“Regulation is not the only policy lever available to improve vehicle safety. ANCAP’s vehicle assessment programs can incentivise safety technology well in advance of regulation.”

ANCAP supports the Review’s call to further strengthen the use of data and evidence in national priority-setting, investment and performance monitoring.

“Important crash and vehicle information is already collected across Australia. The opportunity now is to bring that information together more consistently and make it accessible nationally - including detail on the specific crash scenario. This would provide a clearer picture of real-world vehicle performance, emerging risks and where policy, investment and focussed safety interventions can deliver the greatest benefit,” Ms Hoorweg said.

“ANCAP’s independent, non-regulatory work complements government regulation. It pushes vehicle manufacturers to improve safety beyond minimum regulatory requirements; supports the early introduction and consumer uptake of new safety features; and uncovers critical safety deficiencies and failures that otherwise may go undetected,” Ms Hoorweg said.

“The contribution of safer vehicles cannot be taken for granted. Continued Australian Government support for ANCAP is essential to maintaining this independent capability and supporting the delivery of a broad range of safer vehicles through the remainder of the National Road Safety Strategy’s current term and beyond.”