This is what happens when a 1998 car crashes into a 2015 car
There’s no doubt about it, cars are getting a lot safer and when one compares the cars of today with the cars of yesteryear you will really see the difference.
Australia and New Zealand’s car safety advocate created a shocking test that demonstrates just how unsafe older cars really are compared to the modern cars and all the new safety features.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is Australasia's leading independent vehicle safety advocate.
They tested the consequences of a head-on collision between a 1998 Toyota Corolla and a 2015 Toyota Corolla.
Both vehicles were collided at 64 km/h and filmed in slow-motion.
Just look at the shocking results of this dramatic collision test.
Car design has had incredible progress in the past couple of decades and manufacturers have made great strides in introducing many new safety features into modern cars.
The collision test highlighted a particular issue involving pre-2000 cars.
ANCAP reports that while older vehicles (cars made before 2000) account for just 20% of the cars on the road in Australia, they are involved in 33% of accidents.
That means that one third of all crashes in Australia involve cars made prior to 2000
“It is concerning the rate of fatal crashes is four times higher for older vehicles than for new vehicles.” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, James Goodwin.
“We’ve been tracking the average age of a vehicle involved in a fatal crash, and in just one year we’ve seen that average increase from 12.5 years to 12.9 years. This highlights the need for a renewed national focus and greater support for safer vehicles,”
While the crash itself is shocking to watch, the aftermath goes to prove how different both cars are and that the modern vehicle is far safer in a collision.
The 2015 Corolla model received a five star rating of 12.93 out of a possible 16 with the car’s structural integrity seemingly remaining completely intact.
The 1998 Corolla model had “catastrophic structural failure” with the crash-test-dummy at extremely an high risk of a serious head injury which, if it was a real person inside this car they would most likely have been killed.
It should come as no surprise then that the 1998 Corolla received a safety rating of zero, or 0.43 out of a possible 16.
Mr Goodwin concluded saying:
“Safety is not a luxury and we want everyone to remain safe on the road, so consumers should look for the safest car they can afford and the safest car that suits their needs.”
“The outcomes of this test are stark and the automotive, finance and insurance industries can play a part to assist in encouraging people into newer, safer cars.”
Author
Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader
in automotive intelligence and vehicle
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He has almost 20 years experience in
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