MEDIA RELEASE

19 May 2009

ACC weighs in on van debate

ACC has today come out in support of the Automobile Association and New Zealand Transport Agency’s concerns about a new model of van.

"Although AA and NZTA were speaking specifically about the Nissan Urvan, ACC’s figures show that most vans have features that make them a lot less safe than your average car," said ACC’s Phil Wright.

"A driver in a van doesn’t have the protection of the engine in front of them, which means that if a van is hit front-on there’s virtually no crumple zone so the legs of the driver take the full impact."

ACC says that vans lag behind cars in terms of safety features. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) and stability control are safety features that are now fitted to over 80% of new cars, only 7% of vans have these features.

"When you take into account the lack of crumple zone, the higher chance of the vehicle rolling due to the higher centre of mass and the lack of safety features it paints a pretty poor picture for vans. People just need to take this information into account when they consider a van as a family vehicle or even a vehicle used by schools or kohunga to transport kids around," said Mr Wright.

"A cheap used van might seem like a bargain but if you’re buying it for use by your staff, or your family, make sure that the vehicle has stability control and airbags. At the end of the day, it’s worth buying top of the range or a new vehicle to get these features."

ENDS

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