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Check out the latest edition of the ANCAPStar. This edition contains the latest ANCAP safety ratings and news from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program.
ANCAP provides consumers with independent and transparent advice and information on the level of occupant and pedestrian protection provided by vehicles in the most common types of crashes. Our member organisations include the Australian and New Zealand automobile clubs, Australian Federal, State & Territory Governments, the New Zealand Government, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation (UK).
Meet all of our member organisations.
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Latest Media Releases.
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28 February 2013
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Important safety ratings for 4x4 buyers
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ANCAP today announced safety ratings for a handful of vehicle choices for 4x4 buyers including the Toyota Landcruiser, Mitsubishi Pajero and Foton Tunland.
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11 February 2013
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Mirage, Kuga & Beetle add to 5 star sales trend
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ANCAP today announced maximum 5 star ANCAP safety ratings for the Mitsubishi Mirage, Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Beetle - adding more 5 star choices into the market at a time of record new car sales.
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5 Star Cars Dominating Sales.
ANCAP safety ratings are now one of the primary consumer considerations when looking to buy a new car. Recent research has revealed consumers now rank safety as equal first priority - along with price - and manufacturers have been responding to this demand with a marked increase in 5 star vehicles available on the market, which is hence reflected in new car sales.
National vehicle sales figures for the months of January and February 2013 (YTD) have shown 5 star cars now dominate the passenger and SUV market segments. Of the 171,434 new vehicles sold across the country year to date, 67% held the maximum 5 star ANCAP safety rating. When separated out by category, 82% of passenger vehicles (~70,000) and 67% of SUVs (~35,000) sold held a 5 star rating. The light commercial segment however is trailing with the dominant ANCAP safety rating in this category being 4 stars (58%). 5 star rated LCVs currently make up 29% of sales.
Of the 10 top selling models across Australia year to date, seven held the maximum 5 star ANCAP safety rating. The three remaining models (all LCVs) - Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux, and Mitsubishi Triton - each held a 4 star ANCAP safety rating. A similar spread of ANCAP safety ratings was seen across New Zealand in January 2013 with eight of their top 10 sellers holding the maximum 5 star ANCAP safety rating.
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Road Safety Given Ministerial Prominence.
In the Gillard cabinet reshuffle late last month, the focus on road safety was elevated to a standalone ministerial portfolio - a welcome shift for ANCAP and the road safety fraternity. Previously, road safety has fallen within the Infrastructure and Transport portfolio with responsibility for road safety resting with Parliamentary Secretary the Hon. Catherine King MP.
Ms King retains the responsibility for road safety following the reshuffle, promoted to the Cabinet as Minister for Regional Services, Local Communities and Territories as well as Minister for Road Safety.
ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Mr Nicholas Clarke congratulated Ms King on her appointment to the Ministry expressing ANCAP's delight that her new role now includes a specific responsibility for road safety.
"This is a very important step forward in bringing road safety to a position where real gains can be made," said Mr Clarke.
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ANCAP Ratings and Fleet Purchasing Policies a Determining Factor in Used Car Values.
The fleet management industry is no stranger to the changing whims of customers and the fickle fashions of the automobile industry, and the clearest way this shows through is in the values of second-hand cars.
Determining a vehicle's depreciation and subsequent value over time is a difficult and complex task.
Some say there are set formulas and they rely on the "Red book", a pricing authority that attempts to consolidate data on private sales and auctions. Others say there are no set rules in calculating the worth of any used vehicle as individual cars retain value for their own reasons.
Residual values can be based on multiple factors. Length of use is paramount, then there is engine economy, fuel type (diesel or petrol), prevailing fuel prices, customer perceptions, interest rate movements and the value of the dollar.
This year, corporate policy is a determining factor. BHP Billiton's recent decision to allow only the safest light commercial vehicles on their sites from 2016 – those that have a five-star safety rating under the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) – is causing shockwaves.
The ubiquitous Toyota Hilux, which has reigned supreme on mining sites throughout the country, only has a four-star ANCAP rating, although Toyota is said to be re-engineering its safety features.
BHP Billiton has a "safety leadership" position in the mining industry. "The question is, will the king of depreciators, the Toyota Hilux, retain its crown or will there be an enforced de-fleet?" asks Fleet Partners general manager of commercial Tony Williams. "The Hilux traditionally keeps very high retained values but if BHP and their many contractors and customers can’t use it on the site, they may take up five-star alternative vehicles right now."
Smartfleet operations manager Derek Bye says the traditional strong market for the Hilux may be affected but he hesitates to say by how much, given the vehicle's historic ability to retain its value.
"We'll know in three years," Bye says. In the meantime, the Ford Ranger and Holden Colorado, both five-star-rated, are likely to be the beneficiaries of BHP's policy.
Bye adds it is hard to look at the market "holistically". In general, nearly everyone in the industry mentions the depreciation in values of the six-cylinder Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, a trend which has been obvious for years, despite state and federal governments mandating them to their fleets.
Williams agrees: "Ford and Holden are fighting against the tide. The traditional saloon is going out of fashion."
The values of SUVs such as the Toyota RAV 4 and the Mazda CX5, together with the smaller car market served by Korean manufacturers Hyundai and Kia, are holding up very well. Bye says the Korean manufacturers' decision to keep warranties at five-year terms only strengthens values when fleets are traditionally changed after three years. The cars on sale still have two year warranties attached.
"It's increasing their perceived value and taking the gamble out of it for used car buyers," he says. Local manufacturers Ford and Holden have not reacted quickly enough to this challenge, in his view.
One general rule of thumb to retain value over time is be different from the herd and buy new models early in their life cycle. Also, if a car is bought early in the new year, be aware that it may have a 2012 build plate. "In three years' time that will be considered a four-year-old vehicle," Bye warns.
In terms of models, buy the latest you can afford, as it will command a premium. "If you'd purchased a Ford Ranger which was going cheaply just prior to the new model being released, you'd have a car with a three-star rating, not a new vehicle with a five-star rating," he says. "You may have to pay a slight premium for the new model but the resale value will be significantly stronger."
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ANCAP on Today Tonight.
When you buy a new car, you expect it to keep your family safe in a crash, but as tests show, that's not always the case. Today Tonight's David Eccleston reports alongside motoring expert John Cadogan on ANCAP safety ratings and which cars are most likely to protect you in a crash.
Watch it now
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Thinking Safety?
Adding to ANCAP's range of point of sale materials is a new self-adhesive label designed to prompt consumers to check the ANCAP safety rating of vehicles at the point of sale. The 'Scan Now' label features the tag line, Thinking Safety? as well as an interactive QR code which, when scanned, directs straight to the ANCAP website.
The advantage of these labels is that they can be used by all manufacturers and dealers of all brands, no matter if they have 5 star rated models in their fleet or not. They can also be applied to all makes/models/variants as they are not rating specific nor do they identify the vehicle it is affixed to as being rated. These weatherproof labels have been designed for adhering to either the rear window or rear quarter windows of vehicles on display in the showroom or for pre-delivery application.
This, and a range of other promotional and point of sale materials are available by contacting ANCAP Communications Manager, Rhianne Robson.
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Victoria Releases New Road Safety Strategy.
Last month, Victoria released its new 10 year strategy to drive the next decade of road safety across the State. The strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce death and serious injuries by more than the 30% target set by the Australian Government in the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 - anticipating that if this target is met, it will reduce Victoria's annual road toll to less than 200, saving around 80 lives per year.
In the past 12 months to the end of February 2013, 273 lives were lost on Victoria's roads. The year before, this stood at 299.
Victoria's Road Safety Strategy 2013-2022 makes specific reference to vehicle safety with its aim to "Increase the availability of vehicle safety features in the Victorian car market and encourage the uptake of these features" through the ANCAP safety rating program. Through ANCAP, the strategy aims to encourage manufacturers to incorporate safety technologies as standard into Australian models. The strategy also aims to provide incentives to encourage young drivers to buy cars with higher ANCAP safety ratings and introduces a new Victorian Government vehicle purchasing policy which requires all light vehicles to have a minimum 5 star ANCAP safety rating.
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SAT Explained: Emergency Brake Assist.
The ANCAP Rating Road Map sets out progressive changes to the ANCAP testing regime for the forward period. The Road Map introduces new tests, new calculation methods, new safety assist technology (SAT) requirements and the like.
Generally each year, the number of mandatory and additional SAT required by a vehicle will increase. The mandatory SAT required to achieve a 5 star ANCAP safety rating in 2013 includes electronic stability control (ESC), three-point seat belts for all forward-facing seats, head-protecting technology (side curtain airbags) for front seats, seat belt reminders for front seats and emergency brake assist (EBA). A minimum of three additional SAT are also required.
Emergency Brake Assist systems detect that brakes have been applied in an emergency and assist the driver by automatically increasing the force being applied to the brakes to improve braking performance.
This SAT is particularly effective for drivers who have less physical ability to apply maximum brake force, such as the elderly.
EBA also becomes a mandatory SAT requirement in order for vehicles to achieve a 4 star ANCAP safety rating from 2015.
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Crash Test Provider Profile.
Alex Lai
Test Engineer
Crashlab, Sydney
How long have you worked here?
I have worked at Crashlab for 10 years this year.
What does your role involve?
Fundamentally, interpretation, set-up and running of destructive vehicle crash tests. I am also responsible for the post-crash data analysis of the vehicles structural deformation and occupant injury assessment. I create and issue the final test reports compiling all the crash data which is then used by ANCAP for the release and publication of an ANCAP safety rating.
Another component of my work is supporting various research and development programs of safer vehicles, roads and systems for the community. One example is the involvement in the Australian National Crash In-depth Study (ANCIS) - a collaborative research program involving the automotive manufacturing industry and State and Federal Government agencies where I attend on site investigations of real life crashes, to examine and collect data that may help determine the possible contributing factors that may have been involved in the incidents.
What do you like most about your role?
Basically I like watching things crash into things (safely of course), and knowing that I was the one that pressed the ‘go’ button makes it even more satisfying. My job also presents me with the opportunity to be exposed to industry's leading technologies and also the chance to provide input into helping improve vehicle safety and driver attitudes.
What is your most memorable crash test? Why?
Out of the hundreds of crash tests I have been involved in, it is impossible to pick just one. So closely tied in second place would have to be the mock "ram raid" of an ATM (unfortunately there was no money in it). After being smashed to bits by a car, it was then loaded onto the back of a van and driven all around town while operators back at base tried to track it down using the inbuilt tracking device in the ATM.
The other most memorable test would be watching a three-tonne truck run into a waist-high bollard and coming to a complete stop! Before the impact we had all been discussing how the truck would just go straight over the bollard leaving it for dead. Well not only did the bollard stop the truck, it also went one further an retracted back down into the ground like as if nothing ever happened.
What do you drive?
Unfortunately circumstances dictate that I drive something that can accommodate my kids and all of their accessories (prams, toys, bikes and scooters...etc!) so, I chose to go with a Toyota Tarago. If I were allowed however, I'd be on my Yamaha motorcycle all day long.
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ANCAP & Top Gear.
ANCAP participated as an exhibitor at the inaugural Top Gear Festival held at Sydney Motorsport Park on 9-10 March 2013. Occupying a space within the Motoring Village, ANCAP showcased the comparative difference in safety performance between a 5 star Hyundai i45 and 3 star Chery J1 - both vehicles having undergone the frontal offset crash test.
Interest in ANCAP and ANCAP safety ratings from Festival patrons was high with many not realising that a 3 star rated vehicle is not an 'average' result.
"Many consumers are surprised to realise that the risk of life-threatening injuries is very real in a 3 star rated car," said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Mr Nicholas Clarke.
"Structural integrity of the vehicle's occupant cell is a crucial factor in survivability and the structure of the 3 star Chery J1 on display at Top Gear had almost completely collapsed when tested. Consumers need to make sure they buy a car with the maximum 5 star ANCAP safety rating," Mr Clarke added.
Over 41,000 patrons attended the Top Gear Festival over the weekend.
ANCAP safety ratings also feature in the Top Gear Australia magazine. Look out for the yellow ANCAP stars alongside each model listed in the Top Gear New Car Guide - available in every edition.
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Volvo Reveals World-first Cyclist Detection with Full Auto Brake.
Volvo has announced another world first in vehicle safety at the Geneva Motor Show - a SAT that detects and automatically brakes for cyclists swerving out in front of the car.
The new cyclist detection functionality is an enhancement of the present detection and auto brake (autonomous emergency braking) SAT and introduces advanced software which allows more rapid vision processing making it possible to extend the present technology to also cover certain cyclist situations.
The advanced sensor system scans the area ahead. If a cyclist heading in the same direction as the car suddenly swerves out in front of the car as it approaches from behind and a collision is imminent, there is an instant warning and full braking power is applied.
The car's speed has considerable importance for the outcome of an accident. A lower speed of impact means that the risk of serious injury is significantly reduced.
According to European accident data, about 50% of all cyclists killed in European traffic have collided with a car. It is anticipated Volvo's new technology will counteract this.
"Our solutions for avoiding collisions with unprotected road users are unique in the industry. By covering more and more objects and situations, we reinforce our world-leading position within automotive safety. We keep moving towards our long-term vision to design cars that do not crash," said Doug Speck, Senior Vice President Marketing, Sales and Customer Service, Volvo Car Group.
This new technology is officially referred to as 'Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with full auto brake' and will be available in the Volvo V40, S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80 models from mid-May in 2013.
Source: Volvo Car Group Press Release, 5 March 2013.
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NHTSA 'SaferCar' App.
ANCAP's counterpart organisation in the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has announced a new application that provides real-time vehicle safety information to consumers.
Available for users of iPhones and iPod Touches, NHTSA's SaferCar app allows users to search its 5 star safety ratings for vehicles by make and model as well as access other vehicle safety information such as details on the installation of child restraints and vehicle safety recalls. Work is underway to develop a compatible app for Android devices.
For Australian and New Zealand consumers, access to ANCAP safety ratings from smartphones and tablets has been available since 2010. This condensed version of the ANCAP website is freely available for use with all operating systems and provides consumers with access to over 430 ANCAP safety ratings; explains the differences between the 1 to 5 star ratings; and provides consumers with access to ANCAP's social media platforms through which crash test photos and video can be viewed. No need to download an app, just click here or go to ancap.com.au on your smartphone. And don't forget to add an icon link to the ANCAP website to your home screen.
* Like ANCAP, NHTSA undertakes crash testing of cars sold across the United States and issues a star rating indicating the relative level of safety provided. The suite of tests conducted by NHTSA differs slightly from those conducted by ANCAP, as does the way in which the final safety ratings are calculated.The specification of models available in Australia may also differ from those tested overseas. For these reasons, results from overseas should be used as a guide only.
Check ancap.com.au for the latest safety ratings for vehicles sold in Australia and New Zealand.
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WHO Launches Global Status Report on Road Safety 2013.
Only 28 countries, covering 7% of the world's population, have comprehensive road safety laws on all five key risk factors: drinking and driving, speeding, and failing to use motorcycle helmets, seat-belts, and child restraints.
The pace of legislative change needs to rapidly accelerate if the number of deaths from road traffic crashes is to be substantially reduced, according to the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2013: Supporting a Decade of Action, published by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In 2010, there were 1.24 million deaths worldwide from road traffic crashes, roughly the same number as in 2007. The report shows that while 88 Member States were able to reduce the number of road traffic fatalities, that number increased in 87 countries.
Key to reducing road traffic mortality will be ensuring that as many Member States as possible have in place laws covering the five key risk factors listed above. The report highlights that:
- 59 countries, covering 39% of the world's population, have implemented an urban speed limit of 50 km/h or less and allow local authorities to further reduce these limits.
- 89 countries, covering 66% of the world's population, have a comprehensive drink-driving law, defined as a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit of 0.05 g/dl or less.
- 90 countries, covering 77% of the world's population, have motorcycle helmet laws which cover all riders on all roads with all engine types and have a motorcycle helmet standard.
- 111 countries, covering 69% of the world's population, have comprehensive seat-belt laws covering all occupants.
- 96 countries, covering 32% of the world's population, have a law requiring child restraints.
- The report also highlights that most countries - even some of the best performing in terms of the safety of their roads - indicate that enforcement of these laws is inadequate.
To read the full article and download the WHO Report, click here.
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You asked us...
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I have been told by a car dealer that you can't have a child restraint positioned in rear seats if the car has side or curtain airbags. Is this true?
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Our expert said...
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Many modern cars have side curtain airbags that deploy from the roof lining and protect the head of an occupant in the event of a severe side impact. Some vehicles also have side chest airbags that deploy from the edge of the seat or door trim. Research indicates that the risk of correctly restrained children (in a child restraint or seat belt) being injured by the deployment of these airbags is very low and that they work as well as for adults in protecting the child from serious injury. This is partly because during the development of airbag systems manufacturers conduct recognised tests to minimise the risk of injury to child occupants.
Most of the concern about children and airbags arises from the early days of airbags in the USA. The original front passenger airbags deployed relatively aggressively. At the time it was common for children in the front seat to not wear seat belts. This was a deadly combination that has now been addressed in the USA by improved design of airbags and the wearing of seat belts. Children are also encouraged to ride in the rear seat (now a requirement of the Australian Road Rules).
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