STARS ON CARS CAMPAIGN

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Road Safety. Can the minister advise the house what the government is doing to improve road safety and reduce death and serious injury in South Australia, with particular reference to improving vehicle safety?

Mr KENYON (Newland—Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister Assisting the Premier with South Australia's Strategic Plan) (14:41): Thank you, ma'am. I thank the honourable member—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr KENYON: I thank the honourable member for his question. He has a keen interest in road safety and, in fact, I am told, he is an active member of the Gawler Road Safety Committee. On 1 March this year, I launched the South Australian Stars on Cars pilot campaign. This campaign will see 26 new car dealers participating in a four-month trial to better promote vehicle safety ratings at the point of sale.

The Stars on Cars campaign has three key elements, which include training for sales staff, displaying educational materials on cars and in the showrooms, and an advertising campaign. Four and five-star safety rating stickers and swing tags will be placed on new cars at dealerships, along with other information on the benefits of purchasing the safest vehicle possible in a bid to improve the level of understanding when purchasing a vehicle.

The safety rating stickers are similar to energy rating stickers on whitegoods—the more stars, the safer the car. The pilot program is supported by an online and press advertising campaign aimed at new car buyers carrying the messages 'Beware of cars with less than four stars' and 'Check the safety rating before you buy'.

This campaign is a first of South Australia and builds on the success of similar programs in Western Australia and Victoria. I believe it has considerable potential to make a noticeable difference in making our roads safer for all of us. My advice is that if people bought the safest car available in their desired class, overall safety across Australia could be improved by as much as 26 per cent, and if each new car had the safety features of the safest car available, it is estimated that death and serious injury could be reduced by as much as 40 per cent across Australia.

Road safety experts suggest that you are twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured in a car with a one-star rating compared to one with a five-star rating. This means that by providing South Australian consumers with safety ratings for both Australian manufactured cars and imported vehicles they will be better able to make informed decisions about the safety of the car they intend to purchase.

I am very pleased to inform the house that this campaign also has the support of and the cooperation of the Motor Trade Association, the Motor Accident Commission, the RAA and the Australasian New Car Assessment Program. I commend this important road safety initiative to the house.