The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has launched a new campaign urging young drivers to buy the safest car they can afford.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Ben Carroll said the TAC campaign How safe is my… aimed to address the alarming proportion of deaths in older vehicles.
“While the 107 lives lost on Victoria’s roads in the first half of this year is the second-lowest on record, the number of young driver deaths (18 to 25 years old) has increased in 2021, with the majority in older vehicles that don’t have key safety features,” Mr Carroll said.
“A lack of safety technology in older vehicles not only increases the risk of being involved in a crash, but also provides less protection in the event of an incident,” he said.
“Gone are the days of buying or handing down an old car – making safety a priority when buying a car could be the difference between life and death in the event of a crash.”
Mr Carroll said TAC research found young drivers placed the least value on safety when buying a car, compared to all other road users, and showed a preference for features such as in-car entertainment and design.
The Minister said the Campaign included a series of videos featuring a driver and either their partner, family members, friends or pets alongside them in the vehicle.
He said viewers were asked to “think of the ones beside you”, with a prompt to visit the TAC’s How Safe is Your Car website.
“We’re asking young people to think not only of their wellbeing but the safety of their mates, partners or parents whose life is in their hands when they are behind the wheel,” Mr Carroll said.
He said the TAC website provided free, independent safety information on cars and allowed people to search by their budget or registration number to find the safety rating and safety features of a vehicle.
The TAC’s How Safe is Your Car website can be accessed at this PS News link.
