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Safety boost


Almost every new arrival came with a major safety push, including the City Safety system we've already reviewed in the Volvo XC60 and plenty of airbag and ABS action in cars at every price point.

The latest member of the five-star ANCAP crew, the Holden Commodore Sportwagon, was also announced.

But the TAC wanted more and staged a protest at the show to highlight the need for safe shopping by every Australian family. It used actors dressed as crash-test dummies to push the message, even calling on motoring journalists to join the cause.

"If everyone upgraded their car to the safest in its class, the Victorian road toll could be cut by a third overnight," says the TAC's road safety manager, Samantha Cockfield.

"Your car's safety features could mean the difference between life and death for you or a member of your family."


Find out more on the 2009 Melbourne Motor Show.


The TAC, like Volvo and other safety leaders, is also asking people to take a deeper dive into safety, moving beyond airbags to the sort of systems which can prevent a crash or help the driver do a better job on the road.

Cockfield says there are plenty of new developments that people need to know.

"These include Intelligent Speed Assist, active head restraints, assisted braking systems, driver fatigue detection and land departure warning."

But the simplest message on safety is just to go to a website, www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au

 

before you buy.

 

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April

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