The ACT Government and ANCAP are urging drivers to consider two key vehicle safety technologies when buying a new car – autonomous emergency braking and lane support systems – which can help save lives.
A/g Deputy Director-General Transport Canberra and Business Services Ben McHugh said the push for vehicle safety technologies is part of ANCAP's, "Re-write the ending campaign", encouraging Australian drivers to upgrade to safer vehicles.
"Autonomous emergency braking and lane support systems are lifesaving technologies helping save the lives of Canberra drivers and reduce the possibility of crashes in the ACT," Mr McHugh said
Autonomous emergency braking uses cameras and sensors to view the road ahead and apply the brakes when required to avoid collisions.
Research has found that autonomous emergency braking can reduce the risk of rear-end crashes by up to 57% and has been attributed to a 27% reduction in fatal crashes.
Lane support systems also use cameras and sensors to recognise lane markings can actively steer or apply the brakes to avoid the car leaving the lane unintentionally. The use of lane support systems can reduce head-on and single-vehicle crashes by 30%.
ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said while 71% of all new vehicles sold in Australia are now fitted with some form of autonomous emergency braking as standard, with the average Australian driving a vehicle 10 years old, it is estimated that just 7% of the 18 million light passenger vehicles registered on Australian roads are currently fitted with it.
"It is important the Canberra community is aware of the availability, function and benefits of vehicles fitted with these active safety systems, and – together with the ACT Government – we are encouraging Canberrans to look for vehicles with these collision avoidance features to help save lives," Ms Hoorweg said.
"Checking to see if your current car, or one you're looking to buy, is fitted with these features is easy. Simply use the search tool available at www.ancap.com.au."
