Our research

Research Themes

A primary focus of the VSRG research program has been developing consumer advice on vehicle safety that rated the relative safety performance of light vehicles. The ratings system developed covers both the role of the vehicle in determining injury outcomes in the event of a crash (secondary safety) and, more recently, the contribution of vehicle design and specification to crash risk (primary safety). Secondary safety assessment covers not only how the vehicle protects its own occupants from injury in a crash (crashworthiness), but also the injury risk posed to other road users with which the vehicle collides (aggressivity). Vehicle safety ratings by make and model of vehicle were published in 1992 in brochure format. The brochure was later named the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) brochure, which has subsequently been produced annually. In more recent times, the UCSR have also been published online both in tabular and searchable formats. Analysis has also been extended to look at average ratings by year of vehicle manufacture. This analysis clearly showed the effects of the introduction of Australia Design Rules (ADRs) – mandatory safety equipment and performance standards – in improving occupant protection performance and provided a mechanism for assessing the impacts of vehicle safety policy changes more broadly.

Ratings and fleet analysis

Evaluation of new technology

Policy development and advocacy

Fleet modelling

Vulnerable road users

Search Keyword All Keywords ABS Aggressivity Airbags ANCAP Autonomous Emergency Braking Systems Bicyclists Compatability Consumer information Consumer preference Cost-benefit analysis Crash avoidance Crash barrier testing Crash Type Crashworthiness Data simulation Distance driven Driver Age Driver Gender Driver Injury Risk Driver sex ESC EuroNCAP Europe European vehicles Fatigue warning systems Fleet Safety Future Benefits GDLS Germany Great Britain Head protecting airbags Heavy vehicles High performance vehicles Induced exposure Lane departure warning systems Light truck vehicles Light Vehicle Fleet Logistic regression Modelling Motorcycle Multiple-vehicle crash Near Side Crashes Occupant demographic Occupant protection Odds ratio Older drivers Passenger car unit Pedestrian Injury Periodic vehicle inspection Primary safety Quasi induced exposure Reverse parking sensors Rollover Safety ratings Scrappage Seatbelts Side airbags Single-vehicle crash SRIP Struck side crashes SUV Torso protecting airbags Total Secondary Safety Index Unprotected road users Used Car Safety Rating Vehicle age Vehicle choice Vehicle Colour Vehicle faults Vehicle occupant protection Vehicle purchase Vehicle safety Young drivers Date All Years 2020 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 1999 1995

A real-world Evaluation of Autonomous Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning in Australasian Light Vehicles

REPORT NO.363 Laurie Budd, Michael Keall, Stuart Newstead 2020

Real-world evaluation of the effectiveness of reversing camera and parking sensor technologies in preventing backover pedestrian injuries

Brian Fildes, Michael Keall, Stuart Newstead 2016

RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE CHANGES IN SECONDARY SAFETY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND VEHICLE FLEETS AND THE POTENTIAL INFLUENCE OF NEW VEHICLE SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES

REPORT NO.329 Laurie Budd, Michael Keall, Stuart Newstead 2015

Development of a method to rate the primary safety of vehicles using linked New Zealand crash and vehicle licensing data

Michael Keall, Stuart Newstead 2015

Pedestrian Injury Outcome as a Function of Vehicle Market Group in Victoria, Australia

Angelo D’Elia, Stuart Newstead 2015

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS ON MOTORCYCLE SAFETY IN AUSTRALIA

REPORT NO.327 Brian Fildes, Laurie Budd, Matteo Rizzi, Michael Fitzharris, Stuart Newstead 2015

Contribution of vehicle safety improvements and infrastructure investment on reducing road trauma in Victoria and projected future benefits

Angelo D’Elia, Stuart Newstead 2015

Inquiry into aspects of road safety in Australia

MUARC 2015

POTENTIAL SAFETY BENEFITS OF EMERGING CRASH AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIES IN AUSTRALASIAN HEAVY VEHICLES

REPORT NO.324 Laurie Budd, Stuart Newstead 2014

Priorities for future vehicle safety improvements in the Western Australian light vehicle fleet

Laurie Budd, Stuart Newstead 2014

RETROSPECTIVE AND PROJECTED FUTURE IMPACT OF CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN VEHICLE FLEET ON PEDESTRIAN INJURY

REPORT NO.320 Angelo D’Elia, Linda Watson, Michael Keall, Stuart Newstead 2014

An evaluation of costs and benefits of a vehicle periodic inspection scheme with six-monthly inspections compared to annual inspections

Michael Keall, Stuart Newstead 2013

Evaluation of vehicle side airbag effectiveness in Victoria, Australia

Angelo D’Elia, Jim Scully, Stuart Newstead 2013

Who Can Best Influence the Quality of Teenagers’ Cars?

Michael Keall, Stuart Newstead 2013

THE POTENTIAL CRASH AND INJURY REDUCTION BENEFITS OF SAFER VEHICLE CHOICES FOR OLDER DRIVERS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

REPORT NO.315 Laurie Budd, Linda Watson, Michelle Scully, Stuart Newstead 2012

EVALUATION OF VEHICLE SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS

REPORT NO.312 Angelo D’Elia, Jim Scully, Stuart Newstead 2012

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