WA Drivers Rally for Visible Safety Ratings on Vehicles in Car Yards
More than 80 per cent of Western Australian motorists are advocating for the introduction of mandatory safety ratings to be displayed on all vehicles available for retail sale. This call to action stems from the latest RAC vehicle safety survey, which revealed that four in five participants support increased visibility of ANCAP and Used Car Safety Ratings at car yards across the state.
Survey Highlights Strong Public Support
The RAC reported that over 270 members responded to the survey, underscoring a significant public demand for clearer safety information. RAC manager of vehicles and fuels, Alex Forrest, emphasised that independent vehicle safety data is accessible for 95 per cent of the new-car market. He stated, "Increasing the visibility of safety ratings has the potential to save lives by encouraging consumers to make safer choices." Currently, Australia lacks a mandatory requirement to display these ratings at point of sale, a practice that has been active in the United States for nearly two decades.
Understanding Safety Rating Systems
ANCAP ratings assess the level of safety a vehicle provides for occupants and pedestrians during a crash, as well as its technological ability to avoid collisions. Used Car Safety Ratings, conducted by Monash University's Accident Research Centre, are derived from real-life crash statistics. Despite the availability of these ratings online, the RAC survey found that just under a quarter of respondents were unaware of these systems, highlighting a critical information gap.
Consumer Priorities and Safety Features
The survey also indicated that members purchasing new vehicles are more likely to rate safety as "extremely important" compared to those buying older, used cars. Half of the respondents (52 per cent) believe that modern vehicle safety technology positively impacts road safety outcomes. When ranking the most useful safety features, participants listed reversing cameras or sensors as the top choice, followed by seatbelt reminders and adaptive cruise control.
Methodological Differences and Safety Advancements
The distinction between ANCAP new-car ratings and Used Car Safety Ratings lies in their methodologies. ANCAP ratings are based on simulated crash scenarios in controlled environments using dummies, whereas used-car ratings analyse thousands of real-life crash reports from police and other sources. The 2025 MUARC Used Car Safety Ratings, calculated from approximately 9.5 million vehicles and 2.6 million injured road users in crashes across Australia and New Zealand from 1987 to 2023, show that vehicle safety has significantly improved. Drivers in 2023 models face a 43 per cent lower risk of death or serious injury in a crash compared to those in vehicles manufactured in 2001.
Urgent Call for Action
Alex Forrest stressed the importance of prioritising safety in vehicle purchases, noting, "It is absolutely critical to prioritise safety when purchasing a car, as your choice could save your life or someone else's." He added that efforts to reduce WA's road fatality and serious injury rates must include promoting the purchase and use of safer cars through enhanced visibility of safety ratings.
