UCSR safety ratings

Safety ratings are calculated by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) and are based on real-world crash data about how well a specific vehicle performs in a crash and the crash avoidance features it has.

UCSRs are based on analysis of real-world crash data from New Zealand and Australia to determine the relative safety of a specific make and model of vehicle. The database used includes about 9.4 million vehicles involved in police-reported crashes from 1987–2022, plus associated injury data.

About 40 percent of New Zealand’s light vehicles have 1- and 2-star safety ratings. That’s approximately 1.8 million vehicles.

Overall safety

An overall safety rating is the best measure of how likely the vehicle is to protect everyone on the road. It’s calculated based on a weighted average of the three ratings described below.

Driver safety

A driver safety rating is based on real-world crash data and is the best measure of how likely the vehicle is to protect the driver in a crash. It considers how often drivers have been seriously or fatally injured in a crash, when driving a specific make and model. It measures your relative safety driving a vehicle, compared to other similar vehicles in the New Zealand and Australian fleet. The driver safety rating can be used as an indicative rating for all occupants when there are passengers in a vehicle.

Other road user safety

Other road user safety ratings are based on real-world crash data and are the best measure of how likely the vehicle is to protect people outside your vehicle in a crash. That includes people in other vehicles, walking, cycling or on a motorcycle. It measures other road user safety, compared to other similar vehicles in the New Zealand and Australian fleet.

Crash avoidance features

A crash avoidance features rating is based on real-world crash data and is the best measure of the reduced risk of crashing due to a vehicle having key crash avoidance features. The assessment is based on availability of 6 features proven to help prevent crashes or reduce their severity:

• electronic stability control
• autonomous emergency braking
• lane keep assist
• daytime running lights
• roll stability control
• reversing cameras/sensors.

Calculation of the rating considers the relative risk reduction benefit of each of the features and weights them accordingly for the specific type of vehicle.