| In Australia, a study was recently conducted to | | | | happens when the vehicle is involved in a crash? |
| rate the safety of cars from years past. The | | | | You can't see how the vehicle is going to perform |
| study was undertaken to give consumers who | | | | when you are in the showroom or the used car |
| are looking to buy second hand cars adequate | | | | yard." |
| information as to the safety of a certain vehicle. | | | | The study did not only focus on the safety of |
| With numerous cars aged more than ten years | | | | car occupants in the event of a crash but also |
| on Australian roads, the study will be helping | | | | took into account the safety of other motorists. |
| consumers decide which second-hand car can | | | | Unlike modern cars which are designed to absorb |
| protect the adequately in the unfortunate event | | | | more energy from a collision, old cars have solid |
| of a crash. | | | | bumpers which can seriously hurt the occupants |
| According to Australia's Herald Sun, the gap in | | | | of anther car. |
| terms of the crashworthiness of the safest old | | | | The result of the study is a huge boost to |
| car and the worst is significantly wide. The study | | | | Volkswagen popularity in the territory. Not only |
| found out that the Daihatsu Hi-Jet from 1982 to | | | | does the largest European automaker show that |
| 1990 is the worst of the lot. The safest in the | | | | their VW seat belts and airbags make their new |
| group is the Volkswagen Passat from 1998 until | | | | cars safer but they have also proven that they |
| 2005. According to the study, motorists are 26 | | | | have been making safe cars in the past. |
| times more likely to be fatally injured in the Hi-Jet | | | | Aside from the best-rated Passat, other notable |
| than in the Passat. | | | | Volkswagen auto models which are rated above |
| Alarmingly, the study found out that of the 279 | | | | average are the Volkswagen Bora and Golf. |
| cars that they have tested, 48 are potential risks | | | | Versions of these cars from 1999 to 2004 are |
| to the life of car occupants. These vehicles are | | | | highly rated in terms of safety. In contrast, the |
| not the usually obscure makes but these are | | | | Mitsubishi Cordia made from 1983 to 1987 are |
| popular vehicles making the result of the study | | | | considered to have below average |
| more alarming. These 48 cars were rated "much | | | | crashworthiness. |
| worse than average". The study involved 2.8 | | | | The below par performance of about one of six |
| million cars which were involved in an accident in | | | | old cars is showing that not all solid cars are safe. |
| Australia and in New Zealand from 1987 to 2005. | | | | Not only that, the study also found out that the |
| These vehicles are a serious threat to the safety | | | | price tag on the cars does not necessarily |
| of motorists. While buying second hand cars that | | | | translate to safety. There are expensive cars |
| are still in very good condition may be a good | | | | which performed poorly compared to relatively |
| choice for consumers, the fact that many old | | | | cheaper cars. |
| cars are unsafe, it is a risk that customers need | | | | "We are seeing a number of small cars, which are |
| to be warned about. | | | | $10,000 or under, performing very well in terms |
| Michael Case, the RACV chief engineer, has this | | | | of both their occupant protection and their collision |
| to say as to the importance of the study: "A lot | | | | partner protection," said Dr. Stuart Newstead, a |
| of people, when they look to purchase a car, are | | | | senior researcher at the Monash University |
| influenced by a wide range of things... But what | | | | Accident Research Centre. |