car news australia

Ancap smashes fresh into old to demonstrate car safety gains

motoring

Last updated Nineteen:09, May twelve 2017

Observe as a one thousand nine hundred ninety eight Toyota Corolla is smashed head-on into a two thousand fifteen model in a crash test to demonstrate safety advancements.

If you are going to be in a crash then cars built in the 20th century are no longer considered a safe drive in Fresh Zealand.

That is the bottom-line of a car-to-car crash test in Sydney on Wednesday when a one thousand nine hundred ninety eight Toyota Corolla was smashed head-on into a two thousand fifteen model.

The test was conducted by independent vehicle safety advocate Ancap (Australasian Fresh Car Assessment Programme) during the fourth United Nations Global Road Safety week to highlight the role safer vehicles play in improving crash outcomes for vehicle occupants.

Stella Stocks, AA motoring services general manager, examines harm to the Toyota Corollas used in an Ancap crash test.

As a result of the test and a look at crash statistics from the Fresh Zealand Transport Agency, the NZ Automobile Association is now advising car buyers to avoid buying a vehicle built in the 20th century (pre-2000).

It’s old v fresh as a two thousand fifteen Toyota Corolla is crash tested head-on with a one thousand nine hundred ninety eight model.

The AA says people are twice as likely to die in a crash if the car they’re travelling in was built before two thousand and Wednesday’s test clearly demonstrates the dangers.

The average age of cars in Fresh Zealand is more than fourteen years. NZTA data shows cars built before 2000, which represents almost forty per cent of all passenger cars and SUVs on Fresh Zealand roads, are involved in fifty seven per cent of fatalities.

Outcomes improve hugely from a decade later when cars produced inbetween two thousand ten and two thousand fifteen made up seventeen per cent of the fleet were involved in ten per cent of fatalities.

It’s old v fresh as a two thousand fifteen Toyota Corolla is crash tested head-on with a one thousand nine hundred ninety eight model.

AA Motoring Services General Manager Stella Stocks says older vehicles are significantly over-represented in crashes that resulted in death.

“Vehicle manufacturers are playing their part by building better, safer cars packed utter of crash prevention technology, but for this to have more influence on our road toll the average age of the fleet must reduce significantly.”

In 2016, three hundred twenty eight people died on Fresh Zealand roads. Stocks says the data from the fleet profile compared against fatalities shows that there would be fewer deaths if older cars were not a factor.

The wrecked one thousand nine hundred ninety eight Toyota Corolla after its head-on crash test with a two thousand fifteen Toyota Corolla.

Wednesday’s test even stunned the crash testers according to Stocks.

“It was a dramatic event. The entire room went very quiet,” Stocks said.

“It was fairly sobering to witness.”

The two thousand fifteen Toyota Corolla after its head-on crash test with a one thousand nine hundred ninety eight Corolla model.

The one thousand nine hundred ninety eight Corolla was built before the current frontal influence rule was applied that sets minimum safety standards for cars sold in Fresh Zealand. It’s also not tooled with life-saving airbags whereas the two thousand fifteen model had a five-star Ancap safety rating.

“This week’s crash test shows the driver in the older vehicle would likely have been killed or very earnestly injured.”

The crash was at a closing speed of almost 130kmh – each vehicle was pulled on a wire to a speed of 64kmh.

Corollas collide: The influence of a head-on crash test inbetween the two thousand fifteen (left) and one thousand nine hundred ninety eight Toyotas.

“On the open road with a closing speed of 200kmh, the outcome would have even more significant for the occupants of both cars and almost certain death for any occupants of the older vehicle.”

Stocks says investment in safety isn’t necessarily expensive.

“The problem is that price is often the largest driver in buying a vehicle. Hopefully when people see this they will put safety very first.

The Toyota Corollas – one thousand nine hundred ninety eight (left) and two thousand fifteen – before their head-on crash test in Sydney.

“Continuing with the Corolla as an example, within a few years Toyota was building cars with a four and five starlet Ancap safety ratings. All models of the Corolla since two thousand eleven have earned five starlets in Ancap crash tests. And that’s true of most brands since then and almost every fresh car today.”

Stocks says this means used car buyers can lightly find much safer vehicles than the older example in this test for a price often well under $Ten,000.

Average age of vehicles = 14.Three years. Average age of vehicles involved in fatal crashes = 15.6 years. The oldest vehicles (built one thousand nine hundred ninety nine or earlier) accounted for thirty eight per cent of the fleet, but were involved in fifty seven per cent of fatalities. The newest vehicles (built 2010-2015) accounted for seventeen per cent of the fleet, but were involved in ten per cent of fatalities. In 2015, the rate of fatal crashes per registered vehicle for the oldest vehicles as two times higher than that of the news vehicles. Source: NZ Ministry of Transport. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

“You don’t have to buy brand fresh to be safe in a car. With the technology available today, even the more affordable technology available a decade ago, there’s no way I’d consider putting friends or family in a car that didn’t meet these basic standards.”

“The question I ask myself is would I put someone I love in a vehicle like that?”

In Fresh Zealand, many families have numerous cars in the driveway including a relatively cheap “starter” car for teenagers once they have their driver licence.

“Often the thinking is to buy a car that is known to be reliable, not too powerful and often older. The result of this test clearly shows why a newer car should be considered.

“Vehicle safety needs to be better prioritised by car buyers. We’ve ended research in the past that shows that a number of factors often come in ahead of any safety considerations during the selection process. Purpose and price will always be up there, but safety should be considered alongside them. Unluckily, colour often takes priority.

“Safety isn’t a luxury.”

Harry Wilson, NZTA’s road safety director, said while buying a vehicle was a individual choice, this event was another part ot making sure people have all the information on newer versus older vehicles and safety improvements.

“Not everyone can afford a fresh car but we encourage people to use the information that is out there about vehicle safety,” Wilson said.

“This has been a truly good practice to make us think about the safety features when buying a used car.”

Ancap is supported by all Australian motoring clubs, the Fresh Zealand Automobile Association, the Australian Government, the Fresh Zealand Government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.

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