Buying a safe car

Vehicle safety features have evolved

Let’s re-write the ending

Vehicle safety features and the technologies that can help you avoid a crash are not future technologies, they’re today’s technologies.

Modern vehicles on our roads today are equipped with a range of active safety features, fitted to assist the driver in an emergency whether they are fatigued, unwell, lose concentration or simply make a mistake.

While not designed to replace the driver, technologies such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and active lane support systems (LSS) are fitted to a wide range of vehicle makes and models – large, small, luxury, budget-friendly – and can drastically reduce your chances of being seriously injured or worse, killed, on the road.

When we see, hear or read about crashes on our roads, we are quick to judge or shake our heads in disbelief – but we’re all human and we all make mistakes.

Sadly, the result of road crashes are too often negative. With today’s technologies, we can turn that around and re-write the ending.

How safe is your vehicle? Visit ANCAP and check the safety rating before you buy.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) provides independent and transparent advice and information on the level of occupant protection provided by vehicles in serious front and side crashes.

Vehicles are awarded star ratings indicating the level of safety they provided in the event of a crash. The higher the ANCAP star rating, the better the vehicles performed in safety tests.

ANCAP recommends that you only buy 5 star rated vehicles.

With 5 star rated cars available in all categories and price points, it’s not difficult to find a safe car.

The first vehicle to achieve a 5 star ANCAP safety rating was in 2001.

Since then, particularly since 2008, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of cars which have achieved a 5 star rating.

This means that there are now many near-new vehicles that have been awarded the maximum ANCAP safety rating for you to choose from.

Visit the ANCAP website for more information on vehicle safety ratings.

Check the safety rating before you buy a used car

The Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) are a crash safety rating that shows how well a used vehicle protects its driver from death or serious injury in a crash compared to other used vehicles.

Your choice of car can make all the difference. In a crash, a driver’s average risk of dying or being seriously injured in a car built in 2021 is almost half of that in a car built in 2001. When purchasing a vehicle, factors like price, colour, seating capacity and make are important but safety should be on the top of your list.

Used Car Safety Ratings are developed by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) by analysing records from more than nine million vehicles in police-reported road crashes in Australia and New Zealand. Each rating is calculated based on the most recent crash data available.

For the 2023 Used Car Safety Ratings, 518 vehicle models were analysed by MUARC, with 106 models allocated a 5-star rating and 87 of these awarded ‘Safer Pick’ status.

Download the UCSR Buyer’s Guide Brochure (PDF, 1876 KB).

There are significant differences in the safety of used vehicles. It is recommended that anyone looking to purchase a used vehicle which is listed in the poor or very poor category (i.e. 1 or 2 stars), reconsider and look towards vehicles with an excellent rating (5-star) or that earned the coveted “Safer Pick” rating.

Young drivers have a higher than average crash rate so it is particularly important that young drivers look at purchasing one of the best-rated vehicles and, if possible, one labelled as "Safer Pick".

Statistics also show that when older people are involved in crashes they are likely to suffer more serious injuries and take longer to recover.  If you are over 70 and thinking of changing your car, consider one with the highest driver safety rating you can afford.

Safety should not be compromised by price with many all of the ‘Safer Pick” vehicles available on the second hand market for under $25,000 and more than half available for $10,000 or less, making safer vehicles affordable.

Young drivers have a much greater risk of being involved in a crash than more experienced drivers, especially in the first 12 months of solo driving. So, if you are looking to buy your very first car, safety needs to be high on your list of priorities.

Buying your first car

So you've been working hard to save money for your first car, with so many cars on the market, how can you be sure you are getting the best car for your budget?

We know that when buying a car, price is probably the most important consideration. But did you know that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a safe car?

The My First Car Checklist (PDF, 109 KB) is a comprehensive list of safety features to help you evaluate the safety of the car you considering buying. You should be buying the highest safety rated car that you can afford.

Why should safety be a high priority?

Over the last decade almost 4,000 young people aged between 16 and 24 have been killed or seriously injured on South Australian roads. More than 60% of those deaths and injuries could have been prevented if they were driving the safest vehicle of the same age as the car they were driving.

With so many new, near new and used cars around, it's hard to find one that fits your needs, is safe and most importantly fits your budget. We've done the hard work for you.

If your budget will only extend to a used car that doesn't hold an ANCAP safety rating, check out the Used Car Safety Ratings (link to previous tab to see how safe it is, and choose a 'Safe Pick' car.

Budgeting for your car

Owning a car isn't just about finding and buying a good deal. Don't forget that cars have ongoing costs so make sure you budget for fuel, maintenance, repairs, registration and insurance.

All vehicles must be registered. In South Australia this means paying for registration plus a Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Insurance fee. The CTP premium covers you if you are at fault in a car crash and cause someone else to be injured or killed.

You can also insure the vehicle with a private insurer for Third Party Property Insurance or Comprehensive Insurance. Insurance premiums are calculated using your age, postcode, car make and model and your driving record. Premiums for young drivers are higher so it's a good idea to shop around for the best deal and ensure the cost of insuring your ideal car won't cost more than the car itself.

Financing your car

If you are thinking of taking out a loan to buy your car, it's easy to get carried away and spend more than you need to. Keep in mind that interest can add a lot to the total cost of a car. Loans can be financial burden, so be sure of your financial situation and living expenses before taking out a loan.

Under the age of 25?

Driving restrictions may apply if you are under the age of 25 such as high powered vehicle restrictions for P-platers. Check the laws and conditions that apply to your licence.

Since the invention of the first motor vehicle, better designs and new technologies have influenced the safety, comfort and efficiency of personal travel. From car horns (1908) and rear view mirrors (1911) to windscreen washers (1933) and seat belts (1967), hundreds of innovations have significantly changed the safety of driving.

Does size matter?

Larger sized cars generally provide better protection in a crash than smaller cars, passenger vans and commercial vehicles. Broadly, car size groups are classified as:

• Light cars: generally less than 1,100kg and an engine capacity of 1.5 litres or less
• Small cars: generally 1,100 - 1,350kg
• Medium cars: generally 1,350 - 1,550kg
• Large cars: generally more than 1,550kg.

A minimum weight of around 1,350kg is recommended. Regardless of the size of the car that you choose, make sure you consider the safety features that are available and look for cars that have the highest safety ratings in their category.

It is not appropriate to compare safety ratings across vehicle categories, particularly if there is a large weight difference. The reason is that with car-to-car crashes the heavier vehicle has a theoretical advantage (due to the physics of the crash). Similarly, a higher ride height might be an advantage in a car-to-car crash. However in single vehicle crashes, such as with solid fixed objects, the weight might no longer be an advantage. It depends on the type of crash. Also some small cars do remarkably well in crashes with larger vehicles as they have very strong passenger compartments and advanced occupant restraint systems and these features make up for the disadvantage in the weight mass.

ANCAP insists on a good result in its side pole test for a 5 star occupant protection rating. This requires head-protecting side airbags or curtains. A 4 star medium car might not have this life-saving technology. ANCAP recommends that people choose a 5 star vehicle.

Safety features to look for

Look for crash avoidance technology and safety features that help protect vehicle occupants in the event of a crash.

Airbags

Most new cars now have front and side driver and passenger airbags. However it is important to realise that these alone are not an adequate safety measure in a serious crash. There are many 2 and 3 star rated vehicles on the road that have airbags but are lacking in some of the other features discussed here.

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)

AEB is a new safety feature which can help avoid crashes altogether or at the very least slow the vehicle and thus lower the risk and severity of a crash. The technology uses forward-looking a mixture of radar and/or  video cameras to monitor the view ahead of the car and alert the driver of impending dangers. If the driver doesn't respond to the alerts the car applies its brakes independently. Look for AEB in the purchase of your next new car

Crumple zones

These protect the occupants by absorbing the energy generated on impact during a crash. Specially designed crumple zones give way, whilst maintaining the structural integrity of the cabin to protect the driver and passengers.

Daytime running lights/visibility

Daytime running lights help others to see your car more easily whilst enabling you to detect risks and identify hazards on the road. Although it is difficult to draw firm conclusions regarding the link between vehicle safety and vehicle colour, studies do indicate that lighter coloured vehicles have slightly less involvement in road crashes than darker coloured vehicles. Lighter colour vehicles provide better visibility to other road users.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

For a car to be awarded a 5 star safety rating, it must have Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Different manufacturers have different names for ESC - for example Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP). ESC is a computer-based system that helps drivers maintain control of their vehicles, particularly in adverse conditions such as wet weather. It continuously monitors a vehicle's speed, steering wheel angle, direction of travel and cornering acceleration, automatically applying individual brakes if there is a risk of skidding or overturning.

Headrests

These should be fitted to all seats in the car, not just front seats, to prevent serious whiplash in a crash. Whiplash is a leading cause of injury in minor crashes and can cause significant spinal, neck and head injury in more serious cases.

Lane Support Systems (LSS)

Lane Support Systems (LSS) use cameras to “read” the lines of the road and alert the driver if the car is approaching the line. Some systems will automatically “steer” the car away from the approached lines to safely maintain the correct course within the lines.

Pedestrian Impact

As drivers of cars, we need to remember that pedestrians and venerable road users such as cyclists are just as important. There are a number of safety features and new technologies available now that can assist cars becoming safer for pedestrian impact. These include safe bonnet and bumper bar structures which are shown in separate pedestrian safety ratings from ANCAP and UCSR. In addition, features such as active bonnets, brake assistance, reversing sensors and cameras, parking sensors, collapsible bonnet mounts to provide a crumple zone if a pedestrian hits the bonnet and different construction materials (such as aluminium rather than steel) to provide a softer, less severe impact.

Reinforced occupant compartment

The cabin of the car is designed like a cell, making it difficult for the engine to breach the compartment in a front-on crash. This also ensures that the steering column, dashboard, roof pillars and floor panels are not excessively pushed inwards onto the driver and front-seat passenger. Ideally, all doors should still be able to be opened and closed after a serious crash.

Side impact protection

To protect passengers in side impact crashes, we recommend cars that are fitted with side and curtain airbags for all seating positions. Curtain airbags usually drop down from the top of the side window, creating a cushion between the occupant and the side of the car and protecting the head and shoulders. Side airbags usually activate from the seat or door panel, protecting the torso.

Seat belts

The oldest and still the most effective vehicle safety feature is a seat belt. Increasingly car manufacturers are installing three-point lap-sash seatbelts in the middle of the back seat, instead of the single lap belt which is not as effective in a serious crash. Check that the car has a seat belt warning chime to alert the driver when seat belts have not been fastened.

MYTH: You can take more risks if you've got a vehicle with safety features - they will save you in a crash.

FACT: While safety features are more likely to increase your chances of surviving a crash, they don't make you indestructible. Safety features won't necessarily save you from death or serious injury, particularly at higher speeds or if you're not wearing your seat belt.