Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts has urged Western Australians in the market for a new or used vehicle to take the time to research safety ratings before making a purchase.
The State Government’s new Safe Vehicles campaign will remind the community to consult the Australasian New Car Assessment Program and Used Car Safety Ratings to make the safest vehicle choice.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program provides star safety ratings determined by the crash-testing of new vehicles sold in Australia, while the UCSR Buyer’s Guide is based on the safety performance of vehicles involved in more than eight million police-reported crashes in Australia and New Zealand.
Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts said buying a safe vehicle doesn’t only benefit the purchaser, it also contributes to safer roads for the entire Western Australian community.
“ANCAP and the Used Car Safety Ratings Buyer’s Guide are valuable tools for vehicle buyers, whatever the budget. It only takes a few minutes to consult the Used Car or ANCAP Safety Ratings,” Ms Roberts said.
“That’s a small investment of time to put your family in a safe vehicle and protect them from road trauma.
“Vehicle safety features such as airbags, autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warnings are proven life-savers on our roads and are now available as standard in both new and used vehicles on the market in WA,” she said.
The introduction of safety features in vehicles over the past 50 years, such as seatbelts and airbags, has contributed to a reduction in road trauma and saved lives.
Choosing a vehicle with more recent advances in vehicle safety such as autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping technology will further improve the safety of the entire community on our roads.
Last week, the State Government announced it will contribute more than $6 million towards improving roads, rest stops and road train assembly areas across Western Australia to improve safety for heavy vehicles.
The 15 projects include road widening and realignments, construction of road train and truck parking and rest areas, and intersection upgrades.
For more information on the Safe Vehicles campaign, visit the Road Safety Commission’s website at www.rsc.wa.gov.au/.
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