Motor vehicle traders and industry associations are showing overwhelming support for vehicle safety rating labels which aim to help car buyers make potentially life-saving choices when purchasing their next vehicle.

The labels, published by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, show consumers how well vehicles will protect them in a crash, using a simple one to five-star safety rating.

People are more than twice as likely to survive a crash in a 5-star safety-rated car than in a 1-star car, says a statement from the roading agency.

In the first month since the safety labels were launched, over 90 per cent of licensed dealers have opted to print and display the safety rating labels alongside the mandatory EECA Vehicle Fuel Economy Label.

'We're grateful to the motor vehicle industry for their support of the labels, which will help people to choose a safer vehicle when they're looking at cars for sale. Getting more Kiwis in to safer vehicles is a key part of New Zealand's Road to Zero strategy, which is aiming to dramatically reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 2030,” says Kane Patena, Director of Land Transport at Waka Kotahi.

Industry associations such as the Vehicle Importers Association (VIA) are also supportive of the new safety label.

'We support the promotion of vehicle safety ratings in the sales process and have worked with ACC and Waka Kotahi to ensure accurate safety ratings of used vehicles,” says Malcolm Yortson, the VIA's Technical Manager.

In addition, many dealership software providers such as Motorcentral are integrating the label into their dealer management systems, to make the label easy for even more motor vehicle traders to implement.

'The safety rating label is a fantastic tool that allows the public to quickly assess and compare the safety of vehicles being considered for purchase, without the need for technical knowledge. We believe it will lead towards safer vehicles being imported and consequently a safer fleet on NZ roads,” says Mena Eskander, Director of Motorcentral.

Safety rating labels are designed to be printed by motor vehicle dealers and displayed on cars for sale, providing consumers with simple, accurate and reliable information about a vehicle's safety performance when they're making their next purchase.

The voluntary safety rating label sits alongside which must be displayed on all cars for sale by motor vehicle traders to inform customers of the fuel efficiency and estimated yearly fuel costs of the vehicle.

To print safety rating information for a vehicle, go to the label generator on EECA's website:

https://resources.fuelsaver.govt.nz/label-generator/