A recent RAC survey has revealed over 80 per cent of drivers support the mandatory display of safety ratings on all new and used vehicles at point of sale – critical information which could save lives and prevent serious injuries.
The survey of almost 500 RAC members also found nearly 90 per cent consider safety to be of high importance when purchasing a new or used car, yet 55 per cent don’t know the safety rating of their current vehicle.
RAC General Manager Corporate Affairs Will Golsby said many consumers were making critical purchasing decisions in the dark.
“There is currently no mandatory requirement to display vehicle safety ratings at point of sale in Australia, yet the energy rating on your microwave has been compulsory since 2012. One heats your food; the other could save your life,” Mr Golsby said.
“It’s absolutely critical to prioritise safety when purchasing a car, and increasing the visibility of safety ratings has the potential to save hundreds of lives by helping consumers make more informed and safer choices.
“The impact of road trauma is devastating, and as a State, we need to do everything we can to bring WA’s road fatality and serious injury rates down.”
RAC has been consistently calling on the introduction of ‘Stars on Cars’ – the mandatory display of vehicle safety ratings at the point of sale. RAC believes this simple and relatively low-cost change would significantly improve the safety of WA motorists and other road users.
<ends>
Media contact: Mikayla Wearne, 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
