- An independent body providing information on new car safety.
- Cars are crash tested and judged on occupant safety.
- Results are published as a star rating, maximum achievable is five.
Most of us, especially those who have shopped for, or recently purchased a new car, have heard about ANCAP and the star rating system.
ANCAP is the Australian New Car Assessment Program. It's an independent body that provides consumers with information about how well new cars protect their occupants in the case of a serious crash.
In 1997 EuroNCAP (ANCAP's European counterpart) began independently crash testing vehicles and publishing its findings in the form of a star rating. Manufacturers now strive to achieve the best possible star ratings for their new products. This is because ANCAP and EuroNCAP scores can considerably affect new cars' sales potential. In some ways, the scheme 'names and shames' unsafe cars.
In 1999 ANCAP adopted the same testing techniques as the European scheme.
Vehicles are subjected to three main crash tests. The first test is a frontal offset impact. In this test, the vehicle is crashed into an aluminium barrier on the driver's side of the car at 64km/h.
The second test is a side impact test in which a 950kg trolley, with a crushable aluminium face, strikes the driver's side of the car at 50km/h. If the car performs well in the side impact test the manufacturer can choose to have the car subjected to a third test, incorporating a pole. The pole test simulates a side-on crash into a tree or power pole at 29km/h.
Results from the tests are collected from sensors on crash test dummies which are placed in the driver and passenger seats of the car. The effect of the impacts on children is measured by dummies which represent children in the rear seats of the car.
The readings from the dummies give information on the performance of safety features such as seatbelts, airbags and crumple zones.
Ultimately, a star rating is assigned after combining the scores -- including the deduction of points 'modifiers' such as the springing of doors during an impact or incorrect airbag deployment -- of all three tests. The maximum star rating that can be achieved is five stars.
You can read an outline of ANCAP's test and scoring protocols here www.ancap.com.au
It's worth noting, from January 2008 cars must be equipped with an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system that meets ANCAP's requirements to qualify for a five-star rating.
Additional testing is carried out to simulate impacts with pedestrians. The tests simulate an impact at 40km/h and estimate injuries to the pedestrian's legs and head.
Why ANCAP?
So if manufacturers sell the same models in Europe as they do in Australia, why does ANCAP test them instead of relying on EuroNCAP results? The answer is that some models are slightly different in specification compared to those sold overseas.
In a similar way, different variations of models sold in Australia may produce different results. For that reason ANCAP tends to test the most popular variant or specification from each model range.
Typically ANCAP purchases the cars it tests direct from dealers. More recently some manufacturers have chosen to supply cars to ANCAP for testing. These include Subaru and Ford Australia.
ANCAP and similar test bodies have influenced manufacturers to focus on improving car safety over the last decade. However, critics of the programs suggest that some carmakers spend more time engineering cars to perform well in the tests, rather than in real world situations.
ANCAP and EuroNCAP tests will undoubtedly evolve to take account of new developments in automotive safety. Already, discussion is taking place on what will constitute a 'six-star' score.
-- with staff
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