New cars safer

New cars are safer than ever, and four and five star ratings for passenger vehicles are expected to become "the norm", says the Transport Agency.

Models which scored well in the latest round of Australasian New Car Assessment Programme tests included the new Volkswagen Polo, which got a five-star rating, and the new hybrid Toyota Camry which got four stars.

Vehicles were scored on a scale of zero to five based on how well they protected their occupants and pedestrians.