ANCAP safety data one touch away

Finding out the crash safety rating of a new car is now only a swipe of a touch screen away -- if you have an iPhone.

NRMA Insurance has released 'Car Inspector', a free iPhone application that can be downloaded from the iTunes website.

The cars are listed by category, from small hatchbacks to four-wheel-drive wagons and most cars in between.

Once a car is chosen, it lists the ANCAP crash safety star rating data (if it has been tested), NRMA's security rating and the fuel economy rating based on Green Vehicle Guide data.

It also lists each car's estimated annual fuel bill.

The pay-off for NRMA is that there is also a provision on the application for customers to request a quote for insurance on each vehicle.

But the company insists its priority is to make people aware of the differences in the safety and security of cars.

NRMA Insurance Research Centre Manager Robert McDonald said: "Many Australians are missing out on potentially life-saving technology innovations like stability control, which can help prevent a crash. Drivers should be mindful of things like crash performance and driver visibility, as these are vital considerations for anyone buying a new car.

"NRMA Insurance Car Inspector enables drivers to read about most new cars in the Australian market while they're on the go, wherever they are. It's like having an expert with them in the car yard."

The company says the app allows users to search for specific car models or scroll through vehicle categories.

The Apple iPhone is estimated to have just over 40 per cent of the smart phone market in Australia, just behind Nokia at 43 per cent, while Blackberry and others fill out the remaining share.

However, Car Inspector is not compatible with other smart phones as yet. But the same information is available on the company's website.

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