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