Vehicle safety program recognised by HRH Prince Michael of Kent

Australasia's independent vehicle crash test program, ANCAP, has been recognised as a major force in improving vehicle safety, awarded the 2014 Global NCAP Consumer Champion Award presented by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent.

Gathering in Melbourne yesterday for the 2014 Global NCAP Forum, senior representatives from crash test organisations around the world converged to discuss the progress of global vehicle safety and recognise the achievements of the local test program, ANCAP, and its founders.

Two awards were presented to ANCAP - the first, the Global NCAP Consumer Champion Award - was awarded to the ANCAP test program for its dedication to vehicle safety over the past 20 years and its role in fostering the establishment of the ASEAN NCAP test program.

The second - the Global NCAP Individual Achievement Award - was presented to six of ANCAP's founding members: Chris Coxon, Michael Griffiths, Jack Haley, Michael Case, Michael Paine and Lauchlan McIntosh for their instrumental roles in the foundation and ongoing work of ANCAP.

At the Awards' presentation, Mr David Ward, Secretary-General of the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) said, "ANCAP's support has been invaluable to the successful launch of our newest test program, ASEAN NCAP. ANCAP has also played a pioneering role in fleet safety, encouraging the Australian Government and a growing number of organisations to adopt a 5 star vehicle fleet policy."

The Global NCAP Fleet Safety Guide and Safer Car Purchasing Policy was also launched at the Forum and provides guidelines on sourcing safe vehicles in emerging markets where minimum safety standards may not be a legal requirement.

Underpinning Forum discussions was the global vehicle safety plight - the greatest current challenge being to see basic regulatory vehicle safety standards applied universally.

"Today, passenger cars in Australia, Europe, Japan and the USA are much safer than ever before. This is the result of regulatory 'push' and market 'pull'."

"Globally however, of the 65 million new cars sold around the world in 2013, 20 million of these fail to meet the UN crash test standards, have no airbags, no anti-lock brakes, and no electronic stability control."

"Mandated standards, combined with consumer demand, have stimulated the production of safer vehicles by the automobile industry in developed countries - the challenge now is to promote similar progress in the rapidly motorising countries," said Mr Ward.