The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) is urging the Australian Government to update the country’s vehicle safety laws. They say many cars sold in Australia are missing important safety features that are already required in Europe and this gap is costing lives.
“Every year, hundreds of Australians are killed in crashes that could have been prevented with safer vehicles,” said Dr Ingrid Johnston, CEO of the ACRS. “The evidence is clear: adopting stronger safety standards reduces fatalities and serious injuries.”
Europe Leads, Australia Lags
Europe has already adopted a set of rules called the General Safety Regulation (EU GSR II). These rules require new cars to have advanced safety technology, such as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), Event Data Recorders (EDRs), warnings for driver distraction, better systems to detect pedestrians and cyclists, and drowsiness detection systems
In Australia, none of these features are yet required by law. Even safety features like Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) are still behind. In Europe, AEB must detect not just cars, but also people, bikes, and intersections. Australia’s current rules only require car-to-car braking.
Lower-Rated Cars Still on the Road
Some new vehicles sold in Australia have received zero or one-star safety ratings from ANCAP. In Europe, similar models get better scores because of stronger design rules and safety requirements. But Australian drivers may not know the difference.
“Many Australian consumers are unaware of these differences and may have purchased vehicles under the mistaken assumption that safety standards are equivalent across markets,” the ACRS warned.
National Goals at Risk
The National Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030 aims to cut road deaths and serious injuries by half before the end of the decade. According to the ACRS, modernising safety standards is a key step toward reaching that goal.
“This is about making sure Australians are driving vehicles that give them the best chance of survival,” said Dr Johnston. “We need responsible leadership and immediate action to bring our safety standards in line with the best in the world.”
The ACRS says it is ready to support the government, industry, and road safety experts to help move these changes forward.
“The time for action is now. Australians deserve safer roads and safer vehicles,” the organisation stated.
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