Big 4WDs 'danger to other road users'

All large four-wheel-drives listed in a newly-updated safety index are deemed likely to cause much worse harm to other road users in a crash than an average vehicle.

The Automobile Association, which is today issuing the free used-car index with Land Transport New Zealand, says it does not want to hold itself out as a "four-wheel-drive basher".

"But people need to be aware they are driving something that can cause severe injury," AA technical advice manager Jack Biddle said last night.

His organisation and Land Transport NZ both emphasise that no safety rating system can provide more than an indication of how much protection a vehicle is likely to offer a driver in a crash, or to what extent it is likely to injure others.

But they say drivers of the worst-performing of 288 vehicles in the index are 30 per cent more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than those in vehicles with the latest safety features such as airbags, side-intrusion beams, seatbelt pre-tensioners and crumple zones.

This follows an analysis of police reports of more than 1.1 million drivers involved in tow-away crashes in New Zealand, Queensland and Western Australia since 1991, and in Victoria and Queensland since 1987.

All but one of seven large 4WD models listed were found to offer their drivers significantly better than average protection.

Nissan Patrol/Safaris built between 1982 and 1987 were the exceptions, although they still gave better than average chances of surviving a crash.

But all received a double-x rating for being likely to inflict significantly more harm than average on other road users.

Mr Biddle noted that this was not the case with most medium or compact 4WDs, against which drivers of other vehicles and unprotected road users such as pedestrians and cyclists were generally likely to be no worse off than average.

Subaru Foresters were in fact found likely to cause significantly less harm than average, although compact Toyota RAV4s built between 2001 and 2003 were deemed as dangerous as large 4WDs to other road users, while offering only average protection to their drivers.

This was in contrast to earlier versions of the model, which gave their drivers better than average protection and were likely to cause no more than average harm to others.

Toyota spokesman Mark Rounthwaite was last night at a loss to explain the discrepancy, especially as crash tests in an Australian laboratory gave late model RAV4s four out of five stars for driver protection.

Mr Biddle wondered whether bullbars were to blame for the extra risk to which they appeared to put other road users.

But Mr Rounthwaite said all bull and nudge-bars which Toyota supplied its customers conformed to self-imposed standards to ensure that they did not stop airbags working and provided minimal risk to pedestrians by following the contour of the vehicle.

Land Transport NZ spokesman Andy Knackstedt said there was a fairly close correlation between the laboratory tests and analysis of "real world" crashes involving most vehicles in the index.

He noted, however, that the laboratory tests simulated frontal and side crashes only, and not vehicle rollovers, known to be a greater hazard for 4WDs than standard cars.

Asked whether the analysis might prompt tougher vehicle standards, Mr Knackstedt said the preferred approach was to publicise the results so car buyers would put pressure on manufacturers to improve safety.

Although new and larger cars generally provided better protection to their occupants, Mr Biddle said the index showed some older and smaller models rating well.

"People need to identify their needs for a car, and once that is done they should look for the safest they can afford," he said.

"If Mum and Dad are looking for a car for their son or daughter and have X amount of dollars, they may be better holding off ... and moving into a bracket which may get them an airbag or two.

"But even if you drive the most modern car with six airbags, that doesn't give you the right to go haring round corners at breakneck speeds - you are still going to die."

* Copies of the 2005 Used Car Safety Ratings booklet are available online (see link below) and from AA centres and from Land Transport NZ by calling 0800 699 000.