Vehicle safety star ratings: A crucial element of road safety

While we often get enamored by sleek designs, impressive fuel efficiency, and cutting-edge technology, it’s crucial to remember that in the event of a crash, the safety features of a car could be the thin line between life and death. This is where vehicle safety star ratings come into play.

According to the Safe System approach to road safety, it is acknowledged that human error is inevitable, but such errors should not result in road fatalities or severe injuries. Vehicle safety is one of the key pillars of this approach, alongside safe roads, safe speeds, safe road users, and post-crash care. With millions of vehicles on the road, crashes are, unfortunately, a daily occurrence. When these incidents happen, the safety features in a car become one’s first line of defence. Modern vehicles are equipped with a range of safety technologies, including airbags, anti-lock brakes, crumple zones, automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection and electronic stability control among others.

These features, when designed and functioning properly, significantly reduce the severity of injuries in a collision and they are constantly being tested and refined to enhance their effectiveness.

Vehicle safety ratings, often expressed in the form of star ratings or safety scores, are assessments provided by organisations that carry out programmed tests on vehicles to ascertain their safety levels. These organisations rigorously test vehicles for crashworthiness and assign ratings based on the results.

The purpose of these ratings is to give consumers an objective way to evaluate the safety of different vehicle models. They take into account various aspects of a car’s safety, including crash tests, collision avoidance technologies, and overall structural integrity. The tests simulate various types of crashes, including front and side impacts, rollovers, and pedestrian collisions and a car’s performance in these tests provides its safety ratings and give a clear picture of how well a vehicle is likely to protect its occupants and others on the road.

Consumers should be concerned about the safety features of their cars or those they intend to buy because the difference between a 5-star and a 3-star rating can be life-changing in a crash. A vehicle with a higher safety rating is more likely to protect its occupants from serious injuries or fatalities. When people prioritize safety when purchasing a vehicle, they are making a conscious decision to reduce the risks associated with driving. Therefore, it is prudent that we all get accustomed to researching car safety ratings and further evaluating the available safety features.

The power of consumer demand cannot be underestimated. When car buyers prioritize safety ratings, it sends a clear message to manufacturers and car traders that safety is paramount. This, in turn, motivates companies to invest in research and development to enhance the safety features of their vehicles. As a result, newer models are equipped with more advanced safety technologies and structural improvements, making roads safer for all.

As technology advances, vehicle safety features are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and paying attention to these features when buying a vehicle ensures you not only benefit from today’s safety standards but also future-proof yourself as these technologies continue to evolve.

Vehicle safety should be a paramount & priority concern for all drivers, car owners, and policymakers. How safe are the cars being allowed onto our market? The next time you consider purchasing a new car, remember to look beyond the exterior and fuel consumption and consider the life-saving technologies that lie beneath...or better, try to google the safety star rating of the car you currently drive/own. I hope the results leave you feeling safe(r).

Jemima Nalumansi, Bloomberg Road Safety Project Coordinator – KCCA