12 April 2011
Victoria has recorded its worst ever vehicle safety figures.
A VACC study has found that 35 per cent of vehicles tested, in the first quarter of 2011, were unsafe. This percentage is the highest ever recorded by VACC since vehicle safety data was first collected in 2005.
“We keep telling people about the importance of vehicle safety and no one seems to listen. Maybe now, with the State’s worst ever results revealed, people will sit up and take notice,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.
“Motorists and government agencies should have a long hard think about this. Every quarter we produce our figures and consistently, the data indicates that approximately one-in-four vehicles are unsafe. This alone should be enough to cause concern, but now the figure has crept up to 35 per cent, we really do need to ring the alarm bells,” Mr Purchase said.
VACC collects the data through a voluntary Five Point Safety Check program. Participating VACC repairers make an additional check of a vehicle’s brakes, tyres, lights, steering and restraints – the basic safety features - at the point of service. The Five Point Safety Check is provided to motorists free of charge.
“We can, and will, keep producing our Five Point Safety Check figures. We will continue with our Vehicle Safety public awareness campaigns and lobbying of governments until we are blue in the face. But what amazes us, is that no one else seems to be concerned about this.
“This is not a publicity stunt to scare motorists into the arms of our members. This is a genuine attempt to highlight the fact that too many unsafe cars, utes, vans and trucks, on our roads, are not well maintained.
“And the most frustrating thing is that a regular service by a professional would address most of these basic faults. However, left unchecked, that worn tyre, or faulty seatbelt or broken light could result in loss of life,” Mr Purchase said.
This article was sourced from the VACC website