Vehicle quality is crucial to road safety outcomes – older and lower ANCAP-star rated cars are overrepresented in serious injury and fatal crashes. The average age of the ACT private light vehicle fleet in 2023 was 9 years. Attention must be given to advances in technology that will assist in keeping all road users safe, adopting improved vehicle safety standards and increasing the uptake of safe vehicles.
Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP)
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program, more commonly referred to as ANCAP SAFETY, is Australasia’s independent vehicle safety authority.
ANCAP safety ratings are published for a range of new passenger, sports utility (SUV) and light commercial vehicles (LCV) entering the Australian and New Zealand markets, using a rating system of 0 to 5 stars. ANCAP star ratings indicate the level of safety a vehicle provides for occupants and pedestrians in the event of a crash, as well as its ability, through technology, to avoid or minimise the effects of a crash. These independent safety ratings are used to compare the relative safety between vehicles of similar mass.
Since 1993, ANCAP has published independent safety ratings for thousands of new vehicle makes, models and variants. These independent safety ratings are used to compare the relative safety between vehicles of similar size, and have become a critical factor in vehicle selection for private and fleet buyers.
ANCAP plays a vital role in not only informing consumers of the differences in safety performance of new vehicles entering the Australasian vehicle fleet, it also advocates for improved vehicle safety design and specification through public education campaigns, advocacy activities and engagement with governments, corporate fleets, the media and consumers.
ANCAP safety ratings are determined based on a series of internationally recognised, independent crash tests and safety assessments – involving a range of destructive physical crash tests, an assessment of on-board safety features and equipment, and performance testing of active collision avoidance technologies.
Vehicles are evaluated against four key areas:
- adult occupant protection
- child occupant protection
- vulnerable road user protection
- safety assist.
A range of tests and assessments are conducted within each area, with vehicles required to meet minimum score thresholds for each star rating level. The overall star rating of a vehicle is limited by its lowest performing area of assessment. To achieve the maximum 5 star ANCAP safety rating, a vehicle must perform to the highest level across all crash tests and assessments.
ANCAP safety ratings are available for over 760 new and used vehicle models, with full details available on each of these models at www.ancap.com.au
Safer first car
There is a lot to consider when purchasing your first car and it is important that you are making safe vehicle choices. To make this a little easier, you can find a list of safe and affordable vehicles in the Safer First Car fact sheet that all hold a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
Caravan safety
Road rules for caravans:
- It is illegal to ride a caravan when it is being towed.
- It is illegal for learner drivers, and provisional drivers who have not held a provisional car licence for at least a year to tow a caravan, with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) over 750kg.
- If you cannot see down the length of your caravan when sitting in the drivers seat, you must have extended mirrors.
- Towing more than one trailer at a time is illegal.
Some laws vary in different states and territories. If you are travelling interstate, check individual State or Territory regulations before you leave.
Safety check
Safety check
Before you head off on a trip, check that:
- couplings and chains are correctly fastened
- caravan brakes are operating correctly
- caravan connections are secure and lights are working correctly
- tyres are inflated to the correct pressure
- all items are securely loaded and fastened
- any roll out awnings are properly locked in a safe travel position, and
- your side mirrors are angled correctly to give you a clear view of the road behind.
Safe loading
Safe loading
It is both unsafe and illegal to overload your caravan, so it’s important to know exactly how much you can pack.
Loading your caravan correctly is vital to ensure a safe trip. An incorrectly loaded caravan can lead to snaking, swaying or loss of control of your caravan and vehicle. When loading your caravan, make sure that the heaviest items are packed low and centred over the caravan’s wheel axles and the lightest items are packed up high.
Safe towing
Safe towing
Driving while towing a caravan is different to normal driving. It requires a higher level of knowledge and skill compared to normal driving. This includes a need for greater stopping distances and consideration of high winds, wet roads and uneven surfaces.
Drive to the conditions
Drive to the conditions
Keep to hard road surfaces where possible.
- When travelling downhill, use a lower gear to increase control and reduce brake strain.
- Keep a safe speed and distance. Slow down when travelling over bumpy or unsealed roads.
- Allow for longer stopping distances by always maintain a greater distance between you and the vehicles in front.
- When larger vehicles pass you in either direction, slow down to reduce caravan sway caused by wind buffeting.
Penalties
Penalties
| Road Rule | Penalty |
|---|
It is illegal to ride a caravan when it is being towed. | Section 298 of the Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017 The road rules do permit people to travel in or on trailers in some situations. However, a typical caravan is not sufficiently safe that in all circumstances there is no danger to anyone in the trailer of being injured. The penalty is an infringement notice of $224 or a maximum court-imposed amount of 20 penalty units, which is currently $3200 for an individual. |
It is illegal for learner drivers, and provisional drivers who have not held a provisional car licence for at least a year to tow a caravan, with a GVM over 750kg. | Section 20 of the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2000 The holder of a learner car licence must not drive a motor vehicle that is towing another vehicle on a road or road related area unless the other vehicle is a trailer with a GVM not over 750kg. The penalty is an infringement notice of $224 or a maximum court-imposed amount of 20 penalty units, which is currently $3200 for an individual. Section 32 of the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2000 The holder of a provisional car licence not drive a motor vehicle of a kind that may be driven by the holder of a car licence on a road or road related area unless the other vehicle is a trailer with a GVM not over 750kg. This does not apply if the person has held a provisional car licence, or a provisional licence of a higher class, for at least 1 year. The penalty is an infringement notice of $224 or a maximum court-imposed amount of 20 penalty units, which is currently $3200 for an individual. |
If you cannot see down the length of your caravan when sitting in the drivers seat, you must have extended mirrors. | Schedule 1, Section 1.35 of Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 A rear-vision mirror or mirrors must be fitted to a light motor vehicle as required by this section so a driver of the vehicle can clearly see by reflection the road behind the vehicle and any following or overtaking vehicle. The penalty is an infringement notice of $224 or a maximum court-imposed amount of 20 penalty units, which is currently $3200 for an individual. |
Towing more than one trailer at a time is illegal. | Section 295A of the Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017 The driver of a motor vehicle must not tow more than 1 other vehicle on a road. The section does contain exemptions for some vehicles, but this does not include a typical motor vehicle towing a caravan. The penalty is an infringement notice of $224 or a maximum court-imposed amount of 20 penalty units, which is currently $3200 for an individual. |
Couplings and chains are incorrectly fastened. | Schedule 1 of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 The penalty is an infringement notice of $272 or a maximum court-imposed penalty of $3200 for an individual. |
Caravan brakes are operating incorrectly. | Schedule 1 of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 The penalty is an infringement notice of $413 or a maximum court-imposed penalty of $3200 for an individual. |
Caravan connections are not secure and lights are not working correctly. | Schedule 1 of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 The penalty is an infringement notice of $224 or a maximum court-imposed penalty of $3200 for an individual. |
Tyres are not inflated to the correct pressure. | Schedule 1 of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 The penalty is an infringement notice of $224 or a maximum court-imposed penalty of $3200 for an individual. |
Items are not securely loaded and fastened. | Schedule 1 of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 The penalty is an infringement notice of $654 or a maximum court-imposed penalty of $3200 for an individual. |
Side mirrors are not angled correctly to give you a clear view of the road behind. | Schedule 1 of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 The penalty is an infringement notice of $224 or a maximum court-imposed penalty of $3200 for an individual. |
Overloaded caravan. | Section 295B of the Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017 The penalty for using a vehicle under 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass to tow an overweight caravan is an infringement notice of $413 or a maximum court-imposed amount of 20 penalty units, which is currently $3200 for an individual. |
