Safety ratings for almost 400 vehicles manufactured from the year 2000 onwards have been released as part of the South Australian government's bid to help motorists make safer vehicle choices.
The Department for Infrastructure and Transport, together with the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), has released the latest used car safety information to help people choose the safest vehicle for their budget.
The Department's commitment to continuing to encourage motorists to explore safer vehicles forms part of South Australia's Road Safety Action Plan 2023-25.
As a guide to help used car buyers prioritise safety, the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) lists 389 models by market segment and their safety rating, based on police-reported crash analysis of more than 9 million vehicles across Australia and New Zealand.
Three out of four vehicles purchased in Australia each year are used vehicles and these ratings provide potential buyers, whether it's a first car or not, with additional information to help them compare the safety performance of older vehicles and encourage them to choose a vehicle with a superior level of safety.
The UCSR illustrate the risk of death or serious injury to the driver of the vehicle in a crash, with the models offering the highest safety performance a five-star rating and the poorest performing vehicles one star.
The ratings cover:
*Crashworthiness: the relative safety of vehicles in preventing death or serious injury to their own drivers in crashes
*Aggressivity: the serious injury risk vehicles pose to other road users with whom they collide. This includes unprotected road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists and drivers of other vehicles involved in a crash.
*Total Secondary Safety Index: integrates into one measure the combined Crashworthiness and Aggressivity performance of a vehicle.
A driver of the worst scoring vehicle is over eight times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than the driver in the best scoring vehicle.
While newer vehicles are generally safer than older vehicles, it is important that you check the individual ratings before buying a used car to make a safe choice.
Vehicles marked 'Safer Pick' are the highest performing vehicle models and indicate safer choices, with these vehicles featuring driver assist technologies which have been shown to reduce the likelihood of being involved in a crash.
A full list of Used Car Safety Ratings as evaluated in 2022 can be found on the My Licence website at www.mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/the-drivers-handbook/safer-vehicles
Quotes
Attributable to Joe Szakacs
This fantastic Used Car Safety Rating initiative will provide a much-needed confidence boost to people making an important investment in a used car for themselves, their family and their safety.
Road safety is everyone's responsibility and having an accessible tool such as the UCSR to ensure you're making a safer purchase couldn't come soon enough.
I do not want to see people being avoidably injured because motorists choose an unsafe car.
Do your research and protect your most important investment – yourself and your loved ones.
Attributable to Andrea Michaels
When purchasing a car, safety should always be a buyer's number one priority and with this new guide, we are making it easier for people to make an informed decision.
Three out of four vehicles purchased in Australia are used and the Government is empowering consumers by providing access to safety information for nearly 400 vehicles dating back to 2000.
I encourage anyone considering buying a used car to check the guide first to ensure the vehicle is safe.
Attributable to Motor Trade Association CEO Darrell Jacobs
Road safety is not only about driver fatigue or speed – it's also about making sure you are driving a safe vehicle.
This is a great initiative and is another step you can take in addition to either purchasing from a licensed dealer or having a qualified mechanical inspection.
It will help motorists make informed decisions because there can otherwise be pitfalls from purchasing used cars privately.
