Professor Darcy Holman, Road Safety Council chairman
THE Road Safety Council believes that any death or serious injury on our roads is not acceptable.
I recommend that you only consider a five-star rated vehicle when purchasing a new car to ensure you and your family are given the best chance of surviving a crash.
ANCAP figures show that people are twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash in a one-star vehicle compared to a five-star rated vehicle.
In WA, it is especially important that vehicles, including commercial and 4WD/AWD vehicles, are fitted with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to help reduce our high level of run-off-road crashes – a five-star rating is only awarded to cars with ESC.
We’ve seen that WA drivers are purchasing safer vehicles, with community attitudes surveys showing more than 40 per cent of new car buyers considered safety of the vehicle.
This is encouraging, but the difference between surviving a crash and being killed or seriously injured relies on everyone making the right choice for their safety.
More than half the new cars on the market are four- and five-star rated and available in all price ranges.
The myth that safer cars are more expensive is being further debunked with new five-star rated vehicles available for around $20,000.
You also can’t tell if a vehicle is safe just by looking at it – bigger isn’t necessary better.
Ask the dealer if a car is five-star rated and visit the ANCAP website or use the Used Car Safety Ratings buyers guide to make sure you are in the safest car possible.
WA’s road safety strategy, Towards Zero, has the potential to save 11,000 people from being killed or seriously injured by 2020.