KEY POINTS:
The make and model of used car that drivers choose can mean the difference between life and death in a road crash, according to a new study.
The 2007 Used Car Safety Ratings report on New Zealand and Australian used cars showed that Daihatsu Hi-Jets (made between 1982-1990) were the worst performers in a crash while VW Passats (1998-2005) were the safest.
The study was conducted by the Monash University Accident Research Centre with support from automotive and transport bodies, and released yesterday by Land Transport NZ and the AA.
Researchers examined more than 2.8 million vehicles involved in crashes from 1987-2005 in New Zealand and Australia to rate vehicle models for how much protection the vehicle provided the driver in a crash and how much the vehicle was likely to harm other road users in an accident.
Most four-wheel drives scored average or better results for occupant protection, but were more likely to harm or kill other road users in a crash, the study found.
Monash calculated safety ratings for 279 common makes and models.
Land Transport NZ vehicles manager Don Hutchinson said because the results were based on actual crashes, the ratings could be used to compare relative safety across different classes of vehicles.
"That means the small cars with better than average results in these ratings have outperformed the large cars and 4WDs with average or below average ratings, in terms of driver protection in real crashes," he said.
Stella Stocks, general manager of AA technical services said the ratings showed there were significant differences in crash performance between vehicles.
"Choosing a safer used car can literally mean the difference between life and death in a crash."
Of the 279 models assessed, 86 vehicles were rated "better than average" for driver protection, with 35 of these "significantly better than average", while 77 were rated "worse than average", with 48 of these "significantly worse".
A key finding in the area of driver protection assessment was that many of the better-performing vehicles were newer models, showing the benefits of modern safety technology such as airbags, side intrusion beams, seatbelt pre-tensioners and crumple zones.
The majority of the worst performing vehicles were pre-1990 models, while many recent model European mid-size vehicles received above average ratings.
Of the 279 vehicles surveyed, 260 were also rated on the amount of potential harm to other road users in the event of a crash, including other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, with 73 rated above average and 46 rated worse than average.
- NZPA , STAFF REPORTER
