Victorians are being urged to prioritise safety when buying a used car with the release of this year’s used car safety ratings helping to save lives.
For the first time, safety ratings have considered a vehicle’s level of protection for other road users and the presence of crash avoidance features, such as autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist and reversing sensors and cameras.
Previously, the ratings only included the protection a vehicle provided its driver, a change to encourage people to consider more than just crash protection and their own safety when choosing a car.
Road Safety Victoria head Marcelo Vidales said the ratings were an important tool for first-time buyers.
“The difference between the life-saving technology features fitted in a vehicle manufactured in 2021 compared to a vehicle manufactured in 2001 is worlds apart,” he said.
“Data tells us that safer cars save lives.”
This year, 518 vehicle models received a star rating out of five for driver protection, a vehicle’s ability to keep other road users safe, and its capacity to prevent a crash through included collision avoidance technologies.
The new focus on protection levels for other road users has resulted in a reduction in overall safety ratings for some larger dual cab utilities, while medium SUVs were the safest vehicles overall.
Of the drivers and passengers who have died on Victoria’s roads this year, more than half were travelling in vehicles aged 10 years or more.
People in the market for a new or used car can visit howsafeisyourcar.com.au to view ratings.
