Assistant Minster for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Carol Brown at the
ANCAP Crashlab
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has recently celebrated its 30th
anniversary.
Established in the early 1993 as just the second New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) in
the world after the United States, ANCAP and its star ratings have become synonymous
among Australian and New Zealand new car buyers, vehicle manufacturers and fleet
operators as the independent and trusted voice on vehicle safety.
ANCAP began as a two-year campaign to shine a light on the comparable levels of safety
offered by Australia’s most popular selling models. It has now grown to become the priority
measure used to determine the safety of new vehicles.
The first vehicles tested by ANCAP in 1993 underwent just one crash test – the full width
frontal test conducted at 56km/h – and were fitted with minimal safety features. In stark
contrast, vehicles rated by ANCAP today are subject to seven destructive crash tests
covering a range of crash scenarios, as well as a suite of collision avoidance performance
tests comprising hundreds of varying daytime and night-time scenarios involving other
vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Over the past three years, the value of ANCAP in enhancing the safety of the Australian
vehicle fleet is conservatively estimated at $442.2 million. In 2021 alone, ANCAP’s
influence in expediting the fitment of autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist
and centre airbags can be attributed to the saving of nine lives and a reduction of 236
serious injuries.
The Australian Government has once again solidified its commitment to ANCAP with
funding support of $16.3 million over the next five years.
Assistant Minster for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Carol Brown confirmed the
Government’s commitment during ANCAP’s 30th Anniversary commemorative
celebrations in Sydney.
“The Government’s National Road Safety Strategy places ‘Safe Vehicles’ as a cornerstone
to road safety improvement, said Senator Brown.
“Encouraging the prioritisation and proliferation of vehicle safety features and promoting
consumer and fleet uptake of newer, greener and inherently safer vehicles, are clear
actions identified in the NRSS and we’re proud to support ANCAP in delivering these
objectives.
“Every life lost on our roads is one too many, and this renewed commitment will have a
direct impact on reducing the number of lives lost and serious injuries sustained on
Australia’s roads.”
The funding commitment will also assist ANCAP in expanding its influence to address road
safety challenges among a broader range vehicle types and market segments through the
testing and provision of consumer information for commercial vans and large utilities (pick-
up trucks).
The Australian Government is one of 21 member organisations that provide funding to
ANCAP, and has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to ANCAP since it became a
contributing member in 2009. Support for ANCAP is also received through industry
collaboration and the provision of test results from sister organisation, Euro NCAP.
