Between January and December 2016, 45 vehicles available in Australia and New Zealand were tested by ANCAP and 43 of those vehicles received a 5 star safety rating – the maximum score available. Two models scored a 4 star rating, and no new cars achieved a 1, 2 or 3 star safety rating.
But why should that matter if you’re looking for a new car?
Well, to put it simply, there’s twice the chance of death or serious injury if you’re involved in a crash with a 3 star safety rating, than there is in a 5 star vehicle. It’s a scary statistic but, when people ask us for advice about which car they should buy, we recommend they opt for the safest car that they can afford and it’s ANCAP which provides motorists with the most comprehensive and robust guidance available.
ANCAP explained
ANCAP – the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme – is an independent vehicle safety advocacy organisation that provides consumers with safety information about new passenger, SUV and light commercial vehicles. Each vehicle is awarded a rating, based upon its performance in a series of internationally recognised crash tests and technology assessments that indicate its safety in the event of a crash as well as its ability to avoid a collision.
What do ANCAP crash tests involve?
For a vehicle to achieve any rating at all, it must achieve minimum scores in each of the physical crash tests and meet minimum requirements for the inclusion of key safety features and safety assist technologies. For example, models introduced since 2008 can only attain a 5 star rating if they are fitted with Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
To replicate an accident with an oncoming car, a frontal offset crash test is conducted at a speed of 64kph. Most drivers will instinctively try to avoid accidents, so it’s less likely that two cars will meet directly head-on. A frontal offset crash test reflects this, as 40% of the car, on the driver’s side, makes contact with a crushable aluminium barrier which simulates the front of an oncoming car.
High ratings don't solely indicate safety for occupants in a vehicle. ANCAP’s pedestrian protection test simulates either a child or adult being struck by a vehicle travelling at 40kph. In Australia and New Zealand, 15 percent of fatal crashes involve pedestrians, and systems such as pop-up bonnets and external airbags show that there are design features which can lessen the chance of serious injury to those outside of the vehicle.
In all instances, crash test dummies are scientifically measured to assess the level of injuries that a person is likely to suffer as a result of the accident.
Setting the standards for safety
ANCAP has set the standard for how we measure a vehicle’s comparable safety. The organisation has been publishing its test results since 1992 and is supported by 23 automotive clubs, transport agencies and insurers across New Zealand and Australia, including the New Zealand Automobile Association and the New Zealand Transport Agency.
The impressive number of 5 star cars in 2016 is by no means a sign that the tests are too easy.
Each year, ANCAP review the criteria for their star ratings, actively encouraging car makers to continually improve the level of safety built into their cars for the benefit of all road users. Likewise, manufacturers have gained such a wealth of knowledge from ANCAP’s independent assessments that they’ve strived to stay ahead of the game. They’ve invested in developing new technologies and active safety systems that are designed to not only protect passengers and pedestrians in a crash scenario, but also prevent them from happening in the first place.
Because of the high number of new vehicles that are now being sold with a 5 star safety rating, manufacturers are being pushed to meet or exceed this level of safety to remain competitive. This means that excellent safety systems are becoming more prevalent as standard, making them more affordable to all motorists. Of course, if you have a vehicle with great safety features, you’ll also benefit from lower registration costs due to reduced ACC levy charges.
Remember that a car which received a 5 star safety rating in 2013 may not necessarily qualify as a 5 star safety rated vehicle in 2017, so do look for the datestamp which appears with the rating.
A host of information is available on ANCAP's website, including detailed reports which reveal a full breakdown of the scoring.