By Callum Ludwig
In response to the Victorian government highlighting a new Transport Accident Commission (TAC) report urging drivers to upgrade to safer vehicles, Eildon MP Cindy McLeish has claimed the focus should be on safer roads.
The TAC figures show around two-thirds of drivers and passengers killed on Victorian roads last year were travelling in vehicles aged more than 10 years.
“Our message to anyone buying a car is to buy the safest car you can and the How Safe is Your Car website is the best place to start your search,” said Transport Accident Commission CEO Joe Calafiore.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) and Used Car Safety Ratings(UCSR) are free to access and provide the latest vehicle safety information for prospective car-buyers detailing the safety features and highlighting safer alternative vehicles.
So far in 2022, 28 out of the 54 driver and passenger deaths have occurred in a vehicle built more than a decade ago and the average vehicle on Victoria’s roads is around 10 years old.
Head of Road Safety Victoria Carl Muller said the data shows safer vehicles save lives.
“When you’re in the market for a car take a moment to do your research with safety in mind because the decision you make can be a life-changing one.”
Motorists are encouraged to look for vehicles that possess include auto-emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, electronic stability control, and front, side, and curtain airbags.
The Federal Government worked with the states, including Victoria, to ensure all newly introduced models sold in Australia from March 2023 are fitted with autonomous emergency braking.
People can see the latest ratings, look for information about vehicle safety features and check how safe their car is here howsafeisyourcar.com.au.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said it is important when buying a car – whether it be new or used – not to overlook safety features that can step in and reduce the severity of a crash or help avoid one altogether.
“It’s a myth that you need to spend big bucks on an expensive new car,” he said.
“Whether you’re choosing a car for yourself or your family you can find a safe, affordable used car to suit your budget and needs – and it could save your life.”
However, Ms McLeish told Star Mail that road funding was cut from the budget outcome.
“Our roads are an absolute mess, plagued with dangerous potholes and hazards, risking the lives of drivers every day and can cause accidents,” she said.
“The Labor Government cut $50 million to road safety, despite the state’s road toll increasing.”
Ms McLeish is referring to the $50.3 million discrepancy between the 2021-22 expected outcome and 2021-22 target seen on page 339 of Budget Paper 3 in the 2022-23 Victorian Budget. The document states is ‘is lower than the 2021-22 target due to changes to the work program for the Safer Road Infrastructure Program, partially offset by acceleration of work for the Federal Safety Program.’
The Federal Road Safety program is a $3 billion commitment from the Australian Government over three years beginning in 2020-21 that aims to deliver a fast rollout of life-saving road safety treatments on rural and regional roads, and greater protection for vulnerable road users, like cyclists and pedestrians, in urban areas.
It is offered to the states and territories on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis in five or six-month tranches
Ms McLeish said that at a time when Victorian roads are in the worst condition ever seen, funding to protect road users should be increased, not stripped away.
“Locals, visitors, delivery drivers, truck drivers, have all had enough. More needs to be done to repair our roads and increase safety for drivers,” she said.
“No more band-aid fixes, no more whacking up ‘hazard’ signs and no more reduced speed limits as a way to deal with the deplorable quality of our roads.”
