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