Encouraging Safer Vehicles Through Enhancements to the NCAP Rating System

Since 1999 the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has tested and rated vehicles using essentially the same protocols as Euro NCAP. This produces a rating out of 5 stars for front occupant (driver and front passenger) protection. More than half of the model ratings published by ANCAP in that time have been based on at least one set of crash test results from Euro NCAP. Crash test data from Europe is therefore an important component of ANCAP model coverage. Euro NCAP recently changed its rating system to encourage better performance in other areas, such as whiplash protection, child occupant protection and pedestrian protection. Euro NCAP also introduced a Safety Assist component of its rating system to encourage certain safety features. The changes to Euro NCAP's rating system, together with the requirements of other World NCAP organisations have been evaluated by ANCAP and a Roadmap has been prepared. This takes into account the automotive regulatory and marketing environments in Australia and New Zealand. The process included consultation with the local automotive industry. This paper describes the changes to the rating system that ANCAP will progressively introduce in coming years. These include recognition of a wide range of vehicle safety features and minimum performance in tests of pedestrian protection, whiplash protection and roof strength.