New and updated tests and assessments for ANCAP’s five-star vehicle safety rating regime are designed to incentivise a continued high level of safety for Australian and New Zealand new car buyers, according to the independent safety regulator.

ANCAP announced the next step-change in its vehicle safety rating criteria will take effect from next year, as the organisation looks to broaden its test and rating criteria.

From January 2023 ANCAP, which shares common test and rating protocols with its European counterpart Euro NCAP, will expand its criteria by adding new and updated tests and assessments, a statement from the organisation said.

The changes form part of ANCAP and Euro NCAP’s regular regime enhancements designed to encourage continual safety improvements, with the previous step-change in criteria having effect from January 2020.

 “Our 2023 requirements build upon our existing criteria to promote further vehicle safety improvements and address some of the ongoing challenges on our roads,” ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said.

The expanded 2023 test and assessment criteria includes new areas such as the ability of a vehicle to avoid a crash with a motorcyclist, child presence detection and vehicle submergence.

Several existing assessment areas will also be enhanced, including a heighted focus on vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility; a 10% increase to the star rating thresholds for vulnerable road user protection; the assessment of direct driver monitoring systems to manage driver inattention and fatigue; and an expansion of autonomous emergency braking test scenarios to include additional night-time tests and child pedestrian avoidance tests when a vehicle is in reverse.

ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg.

“Vehicles, and the safety technologies within them, are continuing to evolve, and our test criteria are too,” Ms Hoorweg said.

“Physical protection in a crash and the ability to actively avoid a crash are both essential elements to achieve a high ANCAP safety rating, and this approach will continue from 2023.”

The requirements set for each star rating level are designed to encourage vehicles to provide a good balance of passive safety – how well a vehicle protects occupants in a crash, and active safety – plus how effectively a vehicle prevents or minimise the outcomes of a crash through active collision avoidance systems.

“ANCAP safety ratings are designed to ensure new car buyers and the road users they interact with are offered the safest vehicles and newest technologies,” Ms Hoorweg said.

“We encourage all vehicle purchasers to choose a vehicle with the highest ANCAP safety rating possible and the latest date stamp.  It could save your life, or the lives of those closest to you.”

Queensland Government data showed the state had recorded the highest number of fatal crashes for five years, with 220 fatalities for the year to 25 September.

That figure represents 20 more fatalities (10% increase) than for the same period in 2021, and 35 more fatalities (19.0%) greater than the previous five-year average for the same period.

The number of crashes with fatalities was up 24 (13.2%) compared with the same period in 2021 and 40 (23.8%) on the five-year average.