Growth in airbags makes new cars safer

The Subaru Tribeca, a large 4WD, scored 5 stars in the latest ANCAP crash test results released today by NRMA Motoring & Services and the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority.

Other results released for vehicles tested in Australia were the Nissan Maxima, Honda Odyssey and Holden Viva with 4 stars and the Mitsubishi Colt with 3 stars.

Vehicles tested by European NCAP and also available in Australia included the Lexus IS250 and Mercedes B Class with 5 stars; and the Land Rover Discovery, Kia Carnival and Mazda 3 with 4 stars.

"In addition to generally good scores in this release of results, it is encouraging that almost all the vehicles here have a full complement of front, side and head protecting curtain airbags," said NRMA's vehicle safety expert Jack Haley.

"ANCAP has advocated for several years now that all vehicles should have a 6 airbag package and Electronic Stability Control as a minimum safety specification.

"We are pleased that manufacturers are responding to ANCAP's call for a full airbag package in new vehicles."

Mr Haley cautioned that curtains are not standard on all variants of the Honda Odyssey, Nissan Maxima, Kia Carnival and Mazda3 although the tested vehicles had them. Curtains are optional for the Mitsubishi Colt and the variant tested was not fitted with them.

The RTA's General Manager of Road Safety, Dr Soames Job, said while the airbag availability was pleasing, the installation rate of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) was not as high.

"About 20% of new passenger vehicles sold in Australia have ESC," said Dr Job. "This is a good start and the industry claims this will rise to around 40% by mid-2007".

"However, we would like manufacturers and importers to fit ESC as a standard feature in all Australian vehicles as quickly as possible," Dr Job continued.

"The Subaru Tribeca, Nissan Maxima, Lexus IS250, Land Rover Discovery and Mercedes B-Class are the only models here to have ESC fitted across all variants."

"ESC is available on all Mazda 3 and Kia Carnival variants and is standard on the Ralliart variant of the Mitsubishi Colt.

"However, ESC is not available on any variant of the Holden Viva and Honda Odyssey."

"Stability Control has been shown to reduce the risk of being involved in a crash in the first place, thereby reducing injuries overall."

Pedestrian tests on the Honda Odyssey, Lexus IS250, Mazda3, Mercedes B class, Holden Viva and Nissan Maxima gave two star results, with the Land Rover Discovery, Mitsubishi Colt and Kia Carnival producing one star results.

NRMA and RTA encourage new vehicle buyers to consider selecting vehicles with a full 6 airbag package and Electronic Stability Control.

The crash test procedures conducted by ANCAP involve a frontal test at 64 km/h where part of the vehicle hits a barrier, and a side impact test at 50 km/h. The vehicles also undergo a test to assess likely injuries caused to pedestrians by a vehicle travelling at 40
km/h.

A pole test is optional, where the vehicle travelling sideways at 29 km/h strikes a round pole lined up with the driver's head. This measures the effectiveness of head protecting side airbags and can result in extra points being scored.

Pole tests were conducted for the Subaru Tribeca, Holden Viva, Nissan Maxima, Mazda3, Land Rover Discovery, Lexus IS250, Mercedes Benz B-Class and Kia Carnival and confirmed that serious head injury was unlikely. Previous pole tests conducted by ANCAPshow that, at this speed, a fatal head injury is almost certain without head-protecting side airbags.

The results from ANCAP provide consumers with valuable information on the occupant protection performance of new vehicles.

ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, all State governments, the New Zealand government and the FIA Foundation.