The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) urges the Australian Government to urgently strengthen vehicle safety regulations, warning that outdated standards are putting lives at risk. While Europe has embraced world-leading safety technologies, Australians are being left behind – driving cars that would not be allowed on European roads.
Despite evidence that advanced vehicle safety features save lives, Australia has yet to adopt the European Union’s (EU) 2019 safety standards, which mandate life-saving technologies such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), intelligent speed assistance (ISA), and event data recorders. These measures have already reduced road trauma across Europe, but here in Australia, unsafe vehicles continue to be sold without these protections.
Shockingly, some vehicles on sale in Australia have received zero-star safety ratings. In stark contrast, the same vehicle sold in Europe meets stricter vehicle design standards, achieving a three-star safety rating under the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP). This discrepancy highlights the inconsistency in vehicle safety standards applied across different markets, ultimately putting Australian consumers at a disadvantage. Even more concerning is that many consumers purchased the vehicle before it underwent ANCAP testing, under the mistaken belief that the Australian model had the same safety features as its European counterpart.
“Every year, hundreds of Australians are killed in crashes that could have been prevented with safer vehicles,” said CEO of the ACRS Dr. Ingrid Johnston. “The evidence is clear: adopting stronger safety standards reduces fatalities and serious injuries. Australia cannot afford to keep falling behind.”
With the National Road Safety Strategy [1] aiming to cut road deaths and serious injuries by 50 per cent by 2030, modernising vehicle safety standards is a crucial step. The ACRS is urging federal and state governments to act now to prevent further unnecessary tragedies.
“This is about making sure Australians are driving vehicles that give them the best chance of survival,” Dr. Johnston added. “We need responsible leadership and immediate action to bring our safety standards in line with the best in the world.”
The ACRS stands ready to work with policymakers, road safety experts, and industry leaders to accelerate the adoption of these critical safety measures. The time for action is now – Australians deserve safer roads and safer vehicles.
