That's one of the key findings behind a range of recommendations in the report, titled Getting people out of 1- and 2-star cars. Waka Kotahi is using the recommendations to inform ongoing work to improve vehicle safety and reduce the number of people being killed or seriously injured on our roads.
These include efforts to educate owners and potential purchasers of less safe cars, as the evidence shows we are twice as safe in a five-star vehicle than a one-star vehicle.
As part of the research, WSP behavioural and road safety researchers asked over 12,000 owners of one and two-star cars in Aotearoa New Zealand if they were aware of their car’s safety rating. Eighty-six percent didn’t know their correct rating, compared with only forty nine percent of over 1,000 three to five-star car owners surveyed. Twenty-two percent of one and two-star car owners overestimated their rating.
According to official safety ratings data published on Rightcar.govt.nz, about 40 percent of cars on New Zealand’s roads have a one or two-star safety rating.
WSP human factors research manager Louise Malcolm says among the recommendations the report suggests car owners be given information on their vehicle’s safety rating at registration, Warrant of Fitness and servicing times. It also recommends campaigns are run that encourage people to check their vehicle’s current safety rating, as ratings do change over time.
Louise says knowledge is power with vehicle safety ratings, and the research provides some clear direction on where to focus effort.
“There needs to be more public awareness of a vehicle’s safety rating at the time of purchase and more targeted communication and marketing focused on existing owners of less safe vehicles - including people driving around incorrectly assuming they’re already in a safe car,” she says.
“New cars are given a safety rating based on lab crash tests. But as these get older, a used car rating is applied – based on real world crash analysis. For this reason, it’s important we communicate to car owners that the safety rating of their car can potentially change.”
In a ray of light, the report found 95 percent of the owners of one and two-star cars who did understand their vehicle’s safety rating would buy a safer car next time. These people were also more likely to scrap their car rather than sell it when they next upgraded.
When they bought their car, price was a higher-ranking factor than safety for many car owners, according to the research – however potential car purchasers are more likely to rank safety higher as part of their buying decision.
Waka Kotahi Senior Manager Road Safety Fabian Marsh explains safer vehicles help drivers avoid crashes and protect occupants and other road users when crashes do happen.
“The research report provides valuable evidence and insight to help us focus our work and deliver a range of practical and effective solutions that can help to save lives by getting more people into safer vehicles.
“Several of the recommendations validate or help improve work already in progress, including to educate people about the critical importance of buying the safest vehicle they can afford. Other recommendations will be factored into future planning, especially around how we encourage uptake of higher-rated vehicles, which are available across all price brackets."
The WSP research team’s message to anyone looking to buy a car (or advising others) is to check the Rightcar.govt.nz website for current safety ratings and to find out more about vehicle crash avoidance features too.
“While we know people trust the advice of family and friends, it’s important to double check it via an official source such as Rightcar.govt.nz,” says Louise.
For more information read the full report, published on the Waka Kotahi website as part of its research programme.
