The RACQ has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at providing consumers with point-of-sale safety information on used vehicles.By Jenny OReilly
Queensland’s peak motoring organisation has partnered with a small number of dealers to trial the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) program, which places an advisory label on vehicles alerting the buyer to the star rating system. The initiative is the first of its kind in Australia. There are so many things to consider when buying a used car, like price, vehicle condition and optional extras.
The UCSR will make it easier for consumers to at least make an informed decision on the safety aspects of a used car at the point of sale. Four used car dealers are trialling the program: Salters of Moorooka, Byrne Ford in Kedron, Benstead Car Company in Cleveland and Springwood, and All Car Wholesale in Kippa-Ring. The motoring club’s vehicle technologies manager, Steve Spalding, said the ratings were available online, but having the information in the caryard was a prime opportunity to focus on safety.
“In the heat of the moment it can be easy to forget that the safety of a vehicle should play a critical part in the decision-making process and by putting Used Car Safety Ratings information on each vehicle for sale, buyers are encouraged to choose safer models,” Mr Spalding said.
“By having the information in the caryard, the dealers have the opportunity to remind consumers of the importance of safety as well as the other features of the vehicle.”
The ratings cover the most popular passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles up to 17 years old, the average lifetime of used vehicles. The Used Car Safety Ratings, developed by Monash University researchers, assesses the level of crash protection to occupants and other road users in 239 different vehicle types, using data from more than 3.6 million crashes in Australia and New Zealand to assign a one to five-star rating. For more information on the UCSR program, contact RACQ’s Technical Advisory service on 13 1905.
I think this is a brilliant idea, as too many times the car salesman tries to steer the prospective buyer into a vehicle based on his/her commission for the sale and trying to change the needs of the prospective purchaser.I unfortunately could not allow my “P” plated children to drive my SAAB (which has a 5 star rating) due to it being turbocharged. It only puts out 129 kw compared to a Commodore or Falcon etc which puts out more than this. Due to the cap on turbo cars for P-platers and not a kw limit it restricted my kids to a Ford Laser hatch. I know which I would prefer them to drive. Keep up the good work.