Cars have come a long way since Karl Benz built the first gasoline-powered car and Henry Ford introduced mass production with moving assembly lines.
Today, manufacturers are constantly challenged to build safe cars that’ll protect adult drivers, passengers, young kids and even pedestrians. They do this by considering car safety in every step: from design, to technology and assembly. Right until the car is ready to hit the road.
They also put vehicles through rigorous safety and collision tests to simulate different crash scenarios and measure the impact on passengers.
Unfortunately, car safety ratings are not talked about as much as we should. Despite being as important as other issues like “the road” and “not driving under the influence”.
Even manufacturers don’t sell their safety features as much as they sell their 0 – 100 KM time or their engine horsepower.
So the average driver either has no idea why car safety rating matters. And most of us don’t know how to check the rating of our current car or a car we’re considering buying.
That’s why today, we’ll look into vehicle safety ratings. We’ll also talk about collision/crash tests. We’ll simplify terms like crumple zone and ISOFIX mean? Our aim is that reading this helps you become a smarter and safer driver.
Table of content
What is car safety? And why should it be a priority?
Car safety covers everything a manufacturer designs to protect you and your passengers during a crash. It goes beyond airbags and seatbelts.
Modern vehicle safety features are designed to work together as an integrated system. They include:
- Structural design: To absorb and redirect the energy of a crash away from passengers.
- Advanced driver-assistance systems: To prevent accidents from happening.
- Electronic stability control: To prevent rollovers.
- Automatic emergency braking (AEB): To help avoid collisions with pedestrians and other vehicles.
- Proper restraint systems: For adults and ISOFIX anchors for child seats.
Imagine this scenario
You’re traveling on a two-lane road. Your lane is north-bound and the other is south-bound. The driver in the oncoming lane falls asleep at the wheel and swerves into your lane.
Here’s how modern safety technology could prevent this from becoming a disaster:
#1. Lane Departure Warning:
Monitors lane position and alerts the drifting driver before crossing into your path.
#2. Forward Collision Warning:
Detects a potential head-on collision and warns you or the other driver.
👉 But what if the crash can’t be avoided?
That’s when design features like crumple zones, reinforced frame rails, airbags, and seatbelts help manage the force of impact and protect you from fatal injuries.
Why It’s Important
- Lives are at stake: Road crashes kill about 14,000 people in South Africa every year.
- Family first: If you’re a parent with a new born, a safe car gives you peace of mind.
- Financial impact: Accidents lead to repairs and medical bills, higher insurance premiums, and even legal trouble.
Car Safety Ratings? What they mean and who decides
When shopping for a car, it’s important to compare safety ratings the same as you would compare fuel efficiency, performance, and price. The generally accepted rating system used is the 5-Star ratings. And it is awarded based on how a vehicle performs in crash tests.
The more stars there are, the safer the car is. The difference between a three-star and a five-star car means walking away from a crash versus suffering life-changing injuries.
Global organizations involved in car safety assessment are;
- Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme): Europe major tester; many South Africa imports are rated here.
- ANCAP (Australasian NCAP): specialises in the crash testing of automobiles sold in Australia. Also relevant for SA right-hand-drive cars.
- IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety): US-based, useful for global comparison.
- AA SA + Global NCAP: Launched #safercarsforafrica campaign in 2017 to test popular SA models and raise public awareness about vehicle safety.
How the ratings work
Crash tests imitates real-world collisions in controlled environments, using test dummies with sensors to measure the forces transferred to occupants.
Tests carried out include:
- Frontal crash
- Side barrier impact (T-bone)
- Side pole impact
- Pedestrian safety test
Cars are scored across four pillars:
- Safety of the adult occupant.
- Safety of the child occupant.
- Safety of vulnerable road users (e.g. pedestrians and cyclists).
- The vehicle safety assist features.
The score is given to each pillar based on how well the car prevents a crash or protects its occupants and pedestrians during a crash.
- 5 Stars: Excellent performance across all pillars.
- 4 Stars: Good overall safety with strong performance in most pillars.
- 3 Stars: Meets minimum safety requirements.
- 2 Stars: Below average, with notable weaknesses.
- 1 Star: Poor safety, major improvements needed.
Thanks to #SaferCarsForAfrica, car buyers in SA are paying more attention to safety ratings. In turn, manufacturers are challenged to improve the safety specification on models that are lacking.
Comparing safety ratings when buying a car
When shopping for a car or an SUV, safety should be a priority. But it’s not enough to know that. You also need to know what to check for and prioritise.
Does size matter?
Interestingly, many think bigger means safer so opt for large SUVs as a result. But small modern vehicles can match or exceed SUV ratings thanks to engineering advancements.
We’ll illustrate in the table below how to compare vehicles based on their safety ratings. You can also create a comparison table like this to help you make an informed decision.
| Make & Model | Adult occupant | Child occupant | Pedestrians & cyclists | Safety assist features | Overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
VW Polo |
96% |
85% |
76% |
59% |
★★★★★ |
|
Mercedez Benz G-class |
90% |
83% |
78% |
72% |
★★★★★ |
|
Lexus RX
|
90% |
87% |
89% |
91% |
★★★★★ |
|
Chery Tiggo 7 & 8 |
80% |
77% |
80% |
78% |
★★★★ |
|
Suzuki Swift |
67% |
65% |
76% |
62% |
★★★ |
Crumple zones: The front of your car is meant to break first
Have you ever driven past the scene of a car crash? Have you noticed how the front of a crashed car is completely crumpled? This doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design and is a very brilliant innovation in vehicle safety.
Let me explain: In a head-on collision, huge amounts of energy are generated. This energy has to go somewhere, and if that energy travelled directly to the passengers, the result would be catastrophic.
Crumple zones are engineered weak points that absorb and dissipate energy by deforming in a controlled pattern.
The passenger cabin, however, is rigid and designed to remain intact. This combination allows the car to absorb over 50% of the crash energy, reducing the forces reaching occupants.
ISOFIX: The gold standard for car seats & child safety
Child safety has always been important in car design and ISOFIX (International Standards Organisation Fix) is the safest way to secure a child seat.
It uses three anchor points built into the vehicle structure that you can attach your child seats to:
- Two lower anchors between the seat base and backrest.
- One top tether (or anti-tipping anchor) behind the seat or in the boot.
This three-point connection eliminates car-seat movement and significantly improves car safety for your child.
How safe is your current car?
After reading about vehicle safety, you might naturally feel uneasy about not knowing your current vehicle safety status. Here’s a quick guide to help you understand your car safety ratings.
- Check your vehicle’s crash test ratings online. Search the “Make model year + safety rating” on google, or search for the ratings on Euro NCAP to find it.
- Check your seatbelts that they retract smoothly but lock when tugged at quickly.
- Check that there’s no airbag warning light on your dashboard. This could be a sign of a malfunction.
- If you have children, check that your ISOFIX connectors are secure and that your child seat harness fits and locks properly.
- You could even consider having your vehicle safety systems inspected by qualified technicians.
If your vehicle ratings are low or you’re driving an older car without modern safety features, it might be time to consider upgrading your vehicle.
Frequently asked questions:
Q: What is the safest car in the world right now?
A: In 2025, Euro NCAP lists the Volvo XC90 and Mercedes-Benz EQS among the top.
Q: Are SUVs safer than small cars?
A: Not automatically. SUVs sit higher and fare better in some collisions but they can roll over easily. A small five-star hatchback with full safety features is better than a three-star SUV.
Q: How do I know if my car has ISOFIX?
A: Look for plastic guides in the rear seat creases or an ISOFIX label on the door pillar. Your manual will confirm anchor locations.
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