The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has highlighted the issue of vehicle safety following a recent Today Tonight program on Channel 7, in which a Queensland repairer claimed a quarter of vehicles in a Brisbane shopping centre car park were unroadworthy.
VACC has released its third quarter vehicle safety figures, based on its five point safety check. The data reveals that 27.93 per cent of vehicles on Victoria’s roads are unsafe, mirroring the Today Tonight statistics.
Of the 3580 vehicles tested to date this year by VACC repairers, 1000 vehicles failed the test.
The five point safety check is an additional check performed by participating VACC repairers when conducting a vehicle service. They check the tyres, brakes, lights, steering and restraints, free of charge.
"Today Tonight was absolutely correct to identify vehicle safety as a major concern," VACC executive director, David Purchase, said.
"It is a national issue and one that is often overlooked because the focus has been on speeding or alcohol or drug-affected drivers. For years, VACC has been campaigning for better vehicle safety. Our members have first-hand experience of the damage that can be caused by an unsafe vehicle.
"Our members are the ones who tow vehicles away from crash sites and they are the ones who inspect vehicles on their hoists in the workshops. All too often, these vehicles are clearly unsafe.
"It is frustrating to know that measures could be introduced to reduce these numbers, but the Victorian government has no appetite for the introduction of mandatory vehicle testing. That is why VACC has introduced its own five point safety check.
"Frequent vehicle servicing is as close as we can get to regular vehicle inspections but because services are not compulsory, some motorists delay their service and others avoid them completely.
"But if a car is not serviced, bald tyres, faulty steering, broken lights, worn brakes and damaged seat belts can go un-noticed. That makes a vehicle dangerous to the driver, the passengers and other road users."
