Safer Journeys action plan - safe vehicles
Last updated on
13/02/2012 10:56 a.m.
This page sets out the actions for safe vehicles for 2011-2012.
Area of medium concern
The average age of our light vehicle fleet is 12.5 years. This is old by international standards and it means that our vehicle fleet as a whole is less safe than those in countries with younger fleets. The risks associated with older vehicles are high; occupants of cars more than 12 years old have at least twice the risk of death and injury in a crash as occupants of new cars.
Area of continued focus
New Zealand has one of the highest child road fatality rates in the OECD and part of this is due to the lack of, or incorrect use of, appropriate restraints.
Our 2020 goal
Light vehicles
The Safer Journeys goal for light vehicles is to have a vehicle fleet that has the highest level of safety features. One way we can move towards this goal is to reduce the average age of the New Zealand light vehicle fleet from over 12 years old to a level similar to that of Australia, which is 10 years.
However, further research has indicated that a more effective measure would be to increase the number of vehicles entering the fleet that have been crash tested and have a high star safety rating. Work is continuing on developing a 2020 light vehicle target.
Heavy vehicles
Reduce the number of serious crashes involving heavy vehicles.
Restraints
Achieve a correct use and fitting rate of 90 percent for child restraints, and make the use of booster seats the norm for children aged 5 to 10.
Focus areas
Safe vehicles can reduce the likelihood of a crash and reduce the likelihood of death or serious injury in the event of a crash.
Vehicle technology is changing at a fast pace. This means the introduction of vehicle standards is always well behind the availability of new safety technology. So, while continual improvement of vehicle standards is important, the main gain is expected from generating consumer demand for safe vehicles. We have identified three important areas of focus.
Increase public awareness and demand for safer light vehicles
Consumer demand is a powerful lever for improved safety outcomes. Overseas experience shows that consumer awareness programmes, combined with vehicles standards, are the best way to increase the uptake of safer vehicles.
Increasing consumer awareness of the benefits of buying a vehicle with the latest safety features also increases consumer demand for safer vehicles, as do direct incentives.
Consider regulatory interventions and education to improve restraint use
New Zealand has fallen behind international best practice in child restraint use by primary school aged children. A high proportion of child deaths and serious injuries could be prevented by ensuring children are appropriately restrained when travelling in a vehicle.
Incentivise heavy vehicle fleet owners to be increasingly safety conscious
The Operator Rating System gives heavy vehicle operators safety ratings based on their safety performance. These ratings act as an incentive for heavy vehicle operators to be safety conscious.
Table 6: Actions for improving the safety of the light vehicle fleet for 2011-2012
| Focus area |
Actions |
Responsibility |
Increase public awareness and demand for safer light vehicles
|
Promote and expand the use and coverage of the Right Car website using existing infrastructure. |
NZTA |
| Promote electronic stability control (ESC). |
NZTA |
| Influence commercial or company fleet buyers through targeted discussions about the benefits of five star vehicles. |
NZTA |
| Review the Australian 'Stars on Cars' initiative to assess whether it is suitable for New Zealand. |
MoT |
| Develop incentives to be used through the risk rating and levy setting process. |
ACC |
Consider regulatory interventions and education to improve restraint use
|
Raise awareness of the benefits of child restraint use for children over 5 years of age. |
NZTA |
| Investigate extending child restraint requirements by promoting booster seats for children up to a certain age, weight or height. |
MoT |
| Improve data on the correct use of child restraints, and the use of booster seats by children over the age of 5. |
MoT |
| Improve data by recording restraint attachment options in Vehicle Certification Online (VCOL). |
NZTA |
Table 7: Actions for improving the safety of heavy vehicles for 2011-2012
| Focus area |
Actions |
Responsibility |
Incentivise heavy vehicle fleet owners to be increasingly safety conscious
|
Implement the Operator Rating System (ORS). This system will give heavy vehicle operators safety ratings based on their safety performance. Publication of the ratings will act as an incentive for heavy vehicle operators to be safety conscious. |
NZTA |
| Develop incentives to be used through the risk rating and levy setting process. |
ACC |
Table 8: Supporting actions for light and heavy vehicles for 2011-2012
| Focus area |
Actions |
Responsibility |
Policy and consideration of regulatory interventions
|
Evaluate emerging vehicle safety technologies to allow for or promote their early introduction. |
NZTA |
| Investigate mandating ESC and side curtain airbags (SCA) for all vehicles entering the fleet. |
MoT |
| Introduce a low-cost compliance regime for newer safer vehicle imports eg lower registration fees or longer periods between warrants of fitness. |
NZTA |
| Improving information on the safety features of vehicles |
Support and promote the improvement of VCOL and a change to the Motor Vehicle Register to collect better data for areas such as crash reporting. This will allow the safety features of vehicles to be recorded when they enter New Zealand. |
NZTA |
Next steps 2013–2015
The focus will be on accelerating the change to safer vehicles in the vehicle fleet. This will include significant enhancement of promotional activities, and the implementation of incentives and new vehicle standards (such as ESC and child restraints).
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