Motor vehicle safety levels : considerations for consumers in used vehicle purchasing decisions.

This paper reports the preliminary findings of a survey involving around 175 participants that investigated a range of issues related to the purchase of a used vehicle, including the role of safety features in the purchasing decision and the relative use of sources of vehicle safety information. In particular, it discusses three assumptions: 1. The safety aspects of a vehicle are important to consumers. 2. Information from sources like ANCAP and UCSR will influence consumer perceptions of the safety aspects of particular vehicles. 3. Consumers will seek out information on the safety aspects of vehicles. While these findings show there are encouraging signs of awareness of safety in vehicles, mixed results in other aspects show there are both significant challenges and opportunities ahead to communicate these benefits and encourage the purchase of safer vehicles. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E215375.