The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has welcomed changes introduced by the Australian Government on the Australian Design Rule (ADR) for Pole Side Impact Performance.
The new ADR is set to improve the safety of occupants if car is involved in a side impact crash. such as hitting a tree or a pole at the side of the road.
The new ADR will be introduced from the 17th November 2017 for new model light passenger vehicles and on the 1st July 2018 for light commercial vehicles
“This is a welcome development that will lift vehicle safety standards and go a long way to helping save hundreds of lives,” ANCAP CEO Mr James Goodwin said.
“Australia should be proud of its international leadership to develop this global regulation which will improve occupant protection in side impact crashes such as hitting a tree at the side of the road,” Mr Goodwin said.
“ANCAP has required vehicles to undergo a pole side impact test since 2003 in order to be eligible for a 5 star safety rating which has led to a significant increase in the fitment of curtain airbags providing substantial reductions in injury in side impacts,” he said.
“We work to continually raise the safety bar in the vehicle fleet and will modify the pole side impact test from 2018 to make it more demanding for new vehicles to be able to earn a 5 star safety rating,” Mr Goodwin said.
“I look forward to working with the Australian Government and the automotive industry as ANCAP moves to strengthen its rating protocols,” he said.
