The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) urges the Australian Government to urgently strengthen vehicle safety regulations, warning that outdated standards are putting lives at risk. While Europe has embraced world-leading safety technologies, Australians are being left behind—driving cars that would not be allowed on European roads.
Despite evidence that advanced vehicle safety features save lives, Australia has yet to adopt the European General Safety Regulation (EU GSR II, Regulation (EU) 2019/2144), which mandates a comprehensive suite of life-saving technologies. These include intelligent speed assistance (ISA), event data recorders (EDRs), advanced driver distraction warning systems, enhanced pedestrian and cyclist detection, and drowsiness detection systems—none of which are currently required under Australian Design Rules (ADRs). This lack of alignment means many new vehicles sold in Australia are missing features that are already saving lives in Europe.
Even where Australia has introduced safety measures, they often lag significantly behind international standards. Automatic emergency braking (AEB) is one such example, still being introduced under ADRs—years after Europe’s adoption. Even then, the current requirement in Australia is limited to car-to-car functionality, whereas in Europe, AEB includes pedestrians, cyclists, and intersections.
Shockingly, some vehicles currently on sale in Australia have received zero- or one-star ANCAP safety ratings. One of these models—sold in Europe under similar branding—achieves a three-star rating under Euro NCAP, due to stricter vehicle design and safety feature requirements. Many Australian consumers are unaware of these differences and may have purchased vehicles under the mistaken assumption that safety standards are equivalent across markets.
“Every year, hundreds of Australians are killed in crashes that could have been prevented with safer vehicles,” said Dr Ingrid Johnston, CEO of the ACRS. “The evidence is clear: adopting stronger safety standards reduces fatalities and serious injuries. Australia cannot afford to keep falling behind.”
With the National Road Safety Strategy1 2021–2030 aiming to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030, modernising vehicle safety regulations must be a top priority.
“This is about making sure Australians are driving vehicles that give them the best chance of survival,” Dr Johnston added. “We need responsible leadership and immediate action to bring our safety standards in line with the best in the world.”
The ACRS stands ready to work with policymakers, road safety experts, and industry leaders to accelerate the adoption of these critical safety measures. The time for action is now—Australians deserve safer roads and safer vehicles.
Source:
- National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30 (NRSS) (https://www.roadsafety.gov.au/nrss)