Safer cars needed

A new awareness campaign that highlights the importance of choosing a safer vehicle has been launched by independent vehicle safety authority, ANCAP.

After many years seeing the number of lives lost on our roads decrease, this trend has reversed and the number of Australians and New Zealanders dying on our roads is increasing.

The ‘Safer Vehicle Choices Save Lives’ campaign highlights the different crash outcomes between occupants of older vehicles and more modern vehicles. 

It shows the parallel lives of two individuals – a younger female and a middle-aged male – their fate decided by the vehicle they choose to drive.

“This is the first campaign of its kind, where the vehicle is profiled as being the life-saving factor in a crash,” said ANCAP Chief Executive, James Goodwin.

“Many road safety campaigns have tended to focus on behavioural aspects such as speed, fatigue, drink driving and enforcement. They remain vital, however, this campaign highlights the importance of choosing a safer vehicle.”

Goodwin also says that the campaign is a call to improve the affordability of newer, safer vehicles and encourage fleet renewal.

The ‘Safer Vehicle Choices Save Lives’ campaign can be viewed here.