ANCAP SAFETY has joined Queensland minister for transport and main roads Mark Bailey to advise parents and younger drivers about buying a first car.
Launched among Yeronga State High School students, the “You’re No Dummy” online campaign reminds new drivers to choose a vehicle with a high ANCAP safety rating. The aim is to encourage young drivers to research and make safe vehicle choices.
ANCAP crash tested a 1998 Toyota Corolla and its safer 2015 equivalent to show new drivers the importance of vehicle choice.
“Inexperience and older cars present a double vulnerability for our youngest drivers,” ANCAP chief executive James Goodwin says.
“ANCAP research shows vehicles older than 15 years are involved in 36% of fatal crashes compared with newer vehicles which are involved in far fewer at 12%.”
“The campaign aims to steer young drivers and their parents to check the ANCAP safety rating of a car prior to purchase to ensure they’re choosing the safest possible option,” Goodwin adds.
Minister Bailey says the need for safer vehicle choices is necessary to reduce the number of young Queenslanders involved in fatal and serious injury crashes.
“The serious message behind this humorous campaign is young drivers need to be behind the wheel of the safest vehicle possible – the newer the vehicle, the more protection it provides in a crash,” Bailey says.
“Driving experience and skill can take time to develop, but driving a safer car is an immediate action that can improve the odds of walking away from a crash.”
ANCAP safety ratings are available for over 720 new and used vehicle models here.
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