AA attacks rating decision

The AA is disappointed with the government's choice to scrap the ACC’s vehicle risk-rating scheme.

The organisation describes it a backward step at a time when the rising road toll is demanding more actions to improve road safety.

Mark Stockdale, the AA’s principal adviser – regulations, pictured, says: “Improving the safety of the fleet is acknowledged as a key action to improve New Zealand’s road safety, and much more needs to be done to promote vehicle safety to Kiwis. 

“This is why the AA wants the government to mandate the display of safety ratings at the point of sale – something the vehicle risk ratings could have been used for.

“While this rating has only been in place for a few years, it has helped raise public awareness about vehicle safety and was a way to incentivise New Zealanders to make safer choices when purchasing cars.

“Vehicle risk rating helps to educate motorists that at any given budget, not all cars are equal in safety. Some old cars worth just a few thousand dollars are rated band three or four, the safest, while some late-model cars rate poorly.

“The annual licence renewal serves as a reminder of the safety rating and may promote thinking about relative ratings. In the long run, the AA believes vehicle risk-rating will help change the purchase behaviour of New Zealanders – and in turn influence the safety standard of vehicles imported and sold by car dealers.”

The AA adds that, while it has been claimed ACC levies are not increasing for Kiwis, this isn’t true for motor-vehicle levies. 

As a result of scrapping vehicle risk rating, the annual motor-vehicle levy for 65 per cent of car owners will increase. Levies for 38 per cent of cars currently in the safest band will rise by $28 – more than double the ACC levy paid at the moment.