Local safety rules holding back SUV deaths
Safety body says Australian safety rules are preventing a repeat of US SUV and LCV carnagePedestrians in Australia are being spared from a growing trend of SUV and pick-up related fatalities in the USA.
Reports from America highlight a massive 46 per cent jump in pedestrian fatalities since 2009, resulting in nearly 6000 deaths in 2016.
The increase is being linked to the SUV revolution and their high, blunt front ends that hit pedestrians, runners and cyclists, as well as a decrease in driver visibility.
But safety standards are higher in Australia and that is protecting pedestrians, according to the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety organisation.
“The story for Australia isn’t as stark as in the USA. Even our utes score quite well for pedestrian protection,” says James Goodwin, the CEO of ANCAP.
ANCAP reports a slight increase in pedestrian fatalities in Australia, with the death toll of 1222 fatalities to June 2018 only including 177 people for a 14.5 per cent share.
“This is a slight increase but fairly consistent over the past five years,” Goodwin stated.
The ANCAP boss says the growing emphasis on pedestrian protection in Australia, including the strong push for autonomous emergency braking (AEB), is reflected in safer conditions.
“Improving pedestrian safety is vital because almost everyone will be a pedestrian at some point during the day,” Goodwin says.
“Vehicles rated by ANCAP from this year will be ineligible for a five-star rating if they lack well-performing AEB systems which work to actively avoid or mitigate a strike with a pedestrian or cyclist.
“Vulnerable road-user protection remains a key element of our rating system and this is part of our holistic approach to vehicle safety. It’s not just the occupants inside the vehicle we’re working to protect, it’s also those who interact with vehicles on the road.
“No one should die from a mistake.”
Goodwin highlights the difference in vehicles between Australia and the USA in everything from basic design to ANCAP-style safety testing.
Two Australian market SUVs have already been rated at five stars under the latest testing regime.
“There are currently no regulatory or NCAP requirements in place in the United States which address vehicle design for vulnerable road user protection,” Goodwin says.
“Different market preferences are a factor. While local SUV sales have been growing for some time, we don’t have significant numbers of the very large SUVs and pick-ups popular in the US.
“We first introduced pedestrian protection as part of the ANCAP scoring system in 2001 and the stringency of protocols has been increasing every couple of years
“Our SUVs and high-ride utes are achieving good levels of pedestrian protection. Models such as the Mazda CX-9, Toyota Hilux, Holden Colorado and Trailblazer have all achieved ‘Good’ scores,” Goodwin said.
Despite the emphasis on vehicles and ANCAP testing, Goodwin says there is more to be done in other areas.
“The vehicle is only one element of road safety,” he says.
“Safe crossing and footpath design is critical, and pedestrians also have the responsibility to be aware of their surroundings.”
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