Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia today unveiled a new campaign, designed by Curtin University students, to highlight the importance of safety when purchasing a vehicle.
The Safety Comes in all Shapes & Sizes campaign was selected as the most compelling campaign developed as part of the annual Re:act road safety behaviour change program.
Supported by the Road Safety Commission, Re:act challenges local marketing, communications and graphic design students to create a behaviour change campaign that raises awareness of a specific road safety issue facing 16-25 year olds.
With this year's focus on safer vehicles, the students, guided by industry experts, set out to influence young drivers to make safety a priority when purchasing a vehicle. Their 'sort by safety' message encourages young drivers to reconsider their approach and make informed, educated decisions - no matter their budget.
While there is a range of factors that contribute to young drivers dying or suffering serious injury on WA roads, the higher proportion of younger drivers in older cars makes them more vulnerable to crashes and associated trauma.
Safe vehicles is one of the five priority areas outlined in the State Government's Road Safety Strategy, Driving Change, which aims to reduce the number of people killed, severely or seriously injured on WA roads by 50-70 per cent by 2030.
The average age of passenger vehicles in Western Australia is 11.2 years, slightly older than the national average of 10.4 years. WA's fleet has aged over the past five years, increasing from an average age of 10.1 years in 2016.
While vehicle age is an important factor to consider due to significant advances in safety technology, buyers are also encouraged to consider the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety rating. The chance of death or serious injury in a crash in a 3 star safety rated vehicle is twice that of a 5 star vehicle.
For more information about safe vehicles, visit the Road Safety Commission website.
As stated by Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia:
"I thank all the students involved for using their creativity and talent to bring awareness of safer vehicles to young drivers and congratulate those who developed the selected campaign.
"The McGowan Government proudly supports the Re:act program, which not only builds road safety knowledge and positively influences behaviour, but also inspires and nurtures local talent.
"Buying a car, especially a first car, is a significant purchase and in many ways a rite of passage for young drivers.
"This campaign cleverly speaks to our younger demographic who are accustomed to shopping online and refining their search to find a car that suits their needs and wants."
