VACC survey says 28 per cent of cars unsafe
October 12, 2009 by Matt Brogan
A recent report published by Victoria’s peak automotive industry body, the VACC, shows a concerning percentage of cars on the state’s roads are unsafe.
The latest Five Point Safety Check figures show that 28.54 per cent of vehicles on Victorian roads failed a basic safety check during their last service on key safety features such as brakes, tyres, lights, steering and restraints.
Some 3171 cars were assessed during routine servicing at participating VACC repair centres between January 1 and September 30 this year with 905 vehicles failing the Five Point Safety Check.
25 per cent of the vehicles tested had unsafe tyres.
“It is disappointing these figures are so high,” said VACC Executive Director, Mr David Purchase. “VACC believes not enough attention is paid to Vehicle Safety. Motorists, agencies and Governments need to wake up to the fact that too many people are driving too many unsafe vehicles on our roads.
“We commend other road and driver safety campaigns, but vehicle maintenance has been overlooked. That is why VACC has started a Vehicle Safety campaign.
“But we should not be the lone voice on this issue. Governments and their instrumentalities need to recognise that this evidence is overwhelming. The data is real time data and it deserves real time action.
“If something is not done soon the number of unsafe vehicles on our roads will be one-in-three.
“With the holiday season on the horizon, VACC urges all motorists to take personal responsibility for their vehicles, including caravans and trailers, and ensure they are well maintained.
“A regularly serviced vehicle will give you peace of mind and reduce the risks for you, your passengers and other road users.”
Print it: 
Does Vic have compulsory annual safety inspections like NSW? I can’t understand why QLD doesn’t. There are so many dodgy vehicles here it’s not funny.
Victoria does not have a compulsory annual safety inspection. Maybe not annuly but every 2 years. I Germany if you buy a new car you do not need a safety inspection for 3 year but after that every 2 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V.....on#Germany
In NSW if you purchase a new vehicle it does not require safety inspection until after it is 5 years old.
On a TV show some time back the Sth Aust. version of the RTA and the police carried out a roadside blitz on vehicles resulting in several very, very dangerous vehicles put off the road permanently (one car had only 2 nuts per wheel, and these were finder tight at best!) and many defect notices given out. At the end of the show the authorities interviewed said they were considering doing this on a more permanent basis but I haven’t heard of anything since.
i don’t think it’s cause people don’t know their tyres are worn out, i think they’re just too lazy to go get new tyres. they’ll be like ah, i’ll get em later. but me, i like going round corners so i’d get mine changed pretty quick
I agree with Yanzo, the majority of car owners are completely ignorant to the needs of their cars to keep them safe and in excellent working order.
Unless they speed they are completely safe.
Thats the message being preached and enforced almost exclusively for some years now.
So why should we then be surprised that is all anyone is paying attention to.
You reap what you soe.
Sadly what Daniel said it 100% true. The morons we have in government have successfully brainwashed people to believe that all you need to do is stay below the speed limit and all is fine. Unfortunatley the police only perpetuate this belief with every accident they find “speed” a contributing factor.
I think the main problem is people just do not want to part with the cash to have their cars maintained. It really is that simple. They often buy a car that is beyond their means as well – such as a second hand Euro. Case in point – just yesterday I was behind a Merc at the lights. As it puttered off, the smoke trail it left behind was choking as well as being visually blinding. The lady behind the wheel pretended to be oblivious to the problem – but there was no hiding that she knew the story. And I would dare say the smoke would have been the least of the problems that car has….
I agree with your point re: people not wanting to part with the cash. A mechanic friend tells me horror stories all the time about people with thousands of dollars worth of sound equipment in their cars but reluctant to part with cash for metal to metal brakes.
However your statement regarding Euro cars is a bit far fetched. The smoke trail from the Series 100 Toyota Landcruiser I was following two nights ago was not only blinding but stank. The minutes later I passed a Honda Accord with half its lights missing (2 tail and 1 brake at the rear and one headlight). So I believe that people not wanting to spend money on their cars is not restricted to Euro brands (or any specific brand for that matter).
Reading another website Brumby wants to bring compulsory ESP forward by 10 months from the Feds’ legislation, maybe he needs to read the VACC survey first, ESP wont save anyone with cars running around in an unsafe condition!!
I thought this is really really old news.