Buy the safest car in your budget, new campaign urges

Monday, 2 December 2024

A new campaign launching today is urging South Australians to buy the safest car in their budget to reduce lives lost and serious injuries on our roads.

When a crash involves an older car, there is a higher likelihood that the driver or passengers will be seriously injured or killed. In 2023, 62% of vehicles involved in crashes where lives were lost were more than 10 years old.

The campaign will feature across digital advertising, social media, radio and print outlets –particularly targeting younger and older drivers and those in regional and remote areas, who are far more likely to be driving older cars with fewer safety features.

While newer cars are generally safer than older cars as technology, design and mandatory safety standards improve over time, there are plenty of resources available for drivers to make an informed choice within their budget.

With almost twice as many used cars sold compared to new cars each year, motorists are encouraged to check the annual Used Car Safety Ratings report before they buy.

These ratings have been developed by the Monash University Accident Research Centre after analysing more than eight million car crashes, with ‘Safer Pick’ cars indicating better choices based on protection for the driver, safety of other road users and a lower risk of being involved in a crash.

The report highlights drivers don’t need a big budget to choose a safer car - over 60% of this year’s Safer Pick cars are available second hand for less than $10,000.

Visiting the ANCAP website is also a great way to stay informed when purchasing a new or near-new car as it features thousands of safety ratings since 1992. ANCAP provides independent advice on how well vehicles protect occupants in serious crashes and the likelihood of serious injury or death.

Increasing the uptake of safer cars is a key action of the state’s Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2025 to both reduce the number of road crashes and injury severity when they occur.

Important safety features to consider in your next car include anti-lock brake systems, blind spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, airbags (front, side, curtain and knee), lane assist, reversing sensors/cameras, electronic stability control and daytime running lights.

Find out more at thinkroadsafety.sa.gov.au.