Before anybody steps in to rake me over the coals, know for a fact that I do not and will not ever support an age cutoff for vehicles. Ever. Ok, comments sections? I’m not supporting this idea, so can it. But there is a reason why this particular topic is today’s Question of the Day, and of course, this would come from Australia, the land of the automobile-hating politicians and mouthpieces. On March 16th, 2018, there was a sensationalist piece printed in the Sydney Morning Herald titled, “Death Traps: Push To Phase Out Cars Made Before 2002”. The short end of the story goes like this: due to several factors, including better longevity of vehicles, the buying public making their vehicles last longer instead of replacing it every couple of years, and a fatality rate statistic that claims that vehicles manufactured between 1998-2002 were four times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has started to make a push for what they are calling “a reduction of the average fleet age” of the vehicles in Australia.
In a quote from the story, ANCAP Chief Executive James Goodwin said, “It is quite clear that once you get into something that is 15 years old, which you have been driving every day, it is often past the point it is acceptable from a safety point of view. It isn’t likely to have electronic stability control, it may only have one airbag and many 15 year old vehicles may not have any airbags at all. If it doesn’t have those, it should not be driven any more.” I’ll let you read the story to see more quotes, but of course there is a “think of the children” line involving the showing of younger drivers being highlighted in crash statistics…because of course, it must be the car’s fault, right?
A quick rundown on my history. First car was a 1975 model in 1995 (20 years). The newest vehicle I’ve ever owned (relative between model year and year of acquisition) was at least three years old (a 1999 Blazer in 2002 and a 2006 Monte Carlo SS in 2009.) I’m 35 years old now. In my household fleet, both of our daily drivers are twelve years old this year (2006) and the oldest cars, the Mustang and the limo, are 38 years old. Per the call by ANCAP, we’d have to flush out our entire fleet at my house by 2021. And that ain’t happening anytime soon. Not for the daily drivers, not for the projects, not for anyone. So long as they are safe to operate, they will be driven. But there has been and will be a contingent of people out there who invariably insist that older cars should be retired and sent off, much like aircraft are when their life cycle grounds them. What do you think?
It’s funny how governments “suggest” changing something or anything for that matter to improve our quality of life. IMHO it’s all about control and that’s something I don’t take kindly too.
Currently my DD are a 2002 Silverado and 2004 Rainier.
It’s sad that our “free” society is slowly being eroded.
Never! My dd is a 2002 King Ranch, my wife’s is a 2004 Mustang. I have projects that I want to drive on the street that are 40 and 55 years old
It’s never about safety, but rather all about money.
How much is the sales tax on a new car? If you are making your 1990-whatever truck last 20+ years, they aren’t making any revenue. If they can force you to buy a new car or truck, say, every ten years. That’s adds up to millions for the state, not to mention the increase in property taxes to the town.
Oh for the love of GOD!!!!!!!
And how do they expect people to pay for these new vehicles? And what about the countless replacement parts manufacturing and sales industries? Should they just be shuttered and the employees overtax unemployment? At least the shoe sales will increase as people walk more.
Japan’s inspection system is set up to mercilessly hound anyone trying to keep an older car on the road and squeeze their wallet, but at least they had the decency to drop any “think of the children” manipulation and admitted it’s all about keeping money flowing to their car manufacturers.
I’m going to venture to say, people who are careless drivers and likely to be getting into collisions are probably going to purchase less-expensive cars which will be older. To say it’s automatically the fault of the older car is a line of ignorant steamy crap and yep about the money, a particular group hoping there will be an enormous resource shift into new cars and taxes and away from whatever else people are putting their dollars into for now. Since Australia doesn’t make cars anymore, their own remaining industries will be the losers.
Never mind the government intrusion into people’s personal lives and property and the environmental cost of manufacturing new cars to replace serviceable ones thrown away before their time.
All old cars around here, driven carefully.
The Hell with the kids . I have 2 and I don’t like them either . Let them fend for themselves .
I really bristle at the “Government know what’s best for you” attitude prevalent in society today. If you want to have safety inspections on cars before you issue plates, fine. But this smells just like that idiotic “Cash for Clunkers” program a few years ago that junked functioning entry level vehicles in the name of being pollution conscious. Also drove up the prices on used cars for the cash strapped.
I would be in trouble since everything I own is “old”.
I just returned from six weeks vaca in Oz. Lovely place and an awesome/strong car culture there. However, just observing their politics as an outsider, there is a weird almost creepy, definitely globalist, government approach to laws and controlling people. Just my observations, but overall I think the majority of Australians like to believe they are fiercely independent and take a great deal of pride in their history and the hardship their ancestors overcame to build the nation. But like most western countries now their governments have been infiltrated by portside, (get it?), politicians who possess myopic, aggressively ignorant, and uninformed, views of how the population should behave and be controlled. The Nanny/PC element is strong there, (IMO), and Aussies, like car people everywhere, should keep an eye on this type of insidious erosion of rights. Someone in government has fired a warning shot over the bow that this is now in discussion at some official level, and they are testing for weaknesses in the system, seeing if there is any pushback, and if there isn’t then they will keep pushing this agenda. Get on it Aussies, get organized and support your car hobby interests, or risk losing the freedoms you hold dear. Just sayin’.
I got the same feeling in Ireland. The European union has hijacked their country. But as in Australia, the people have no means to revolt due to forced gun control.
The U.S. is next.
Then there is “what’s next”. 55 year old cut off for drivers? I knew a man who had his DL pulled because he had his pacemaker battery replaced. Doctors can and do rat you out to the DMV.
O k so everyone has to go to college and everyone has to drive a new car.How the hell will that work. Someone like one of us will have to fix your broken car,or your broken shitter. Anyway,I think that Gavin is on to something.Some Washington ahole is testing the waters.In my opinion ,who ever this was has no idea how strong the old vehicle hobby is in the US.Again he or she went to college and drives a new car,and that’s all they know. I do feel all cars should have a safety inspection each year.They did away with that in the 70’s here in Indiana.Myself and the wife will be getting out our “summer ” vehicles May first.My 67 Dodge D-200 4 door and the wifes 61 Rambler American convertible. We drive these all summer and fall ,have for years .And I just bought a “new ” winter truck a clean 98 Dodge .That kinda tells ya were I stand.And I also have to believe its a tax money issue.If they outlaw say cars 25 years and older from the road. The price of a 20 year old vehicle would sky rocket.I am sure along with Gavin this is some elected ahole trying to blow smoke up everyones ass. But do to things such as this web sight and SEMA and so on. Old vehicles in the US have a huge following and a huge voice. BS please keep us up on were this goes,and tell us who is behind it.Maybe they need some phone calls
Well this is the dumbest thing I’ve heard yet! So anybody that owns old cars is going to be an outlaw? Time to vote these dumb asses out!!!
I am 64 yrs old . I have owned 1 new car and one 1 motorcycle in my life .
they were a 73 mustang and 74 Yamaha . My wife bought new twice in 82+86 We tend to luck into used deals and free cars .
Early – mid 2000’s we were driving a 91 Caravan , 92 626 and a 93 Grand Cherokee 2 of 3 were free .
Late 90’s was a 84 Crown Vic and the 86 bought new .
If they pass safety insp , etc there should be no issues .
The poor Aussie BS is really sad …
‘ Save the kid ‘ horse shit is a veil for a politician with his hand in a pocket
Statistics can be manipulated to show what you want
My oldest car is 82 last spring and is in much better shape mechanically than most 10 year old cars. It would easily pass a safety inspection if a mechanic could be found competent to judge the condition of cable brakes and mechanical servos etc….
A friend of mine owns antique trucks and always travels with a licensed mechanic employee who is certified in the care of these vehicles. A certain scales inspector one day got literally handed his head over inspecting one of his rigs. First question to the inspector: are you qualified, second question: do you have a vacuum brake certificate, point made!
Of course the rig in question was a late ’40’s car carrier with two ’20s trucks on it. Damn I would love to get a chance to drive the Mack on the carrier.
I am Australian.
I have 5 cars at the moment, and only one of those is built after 2002.
With no local manufacturing anymore, ANCAP has no reason to exist, so they are merely releasing controversial opinions in a vain attempt to remain relevant.
It is interesting that the smh article says classic cars are not a problem, supporting the idea that it is the driver that is crucial. I don\’t argue with the idea that newer cars are safer, but a very big part of it is who is driving them and where. The study needs to compare, say men under 22, in new cars and old cars. Or women over 70, etc.
I would think more old cars are driven faster on country roads than elsewhere. Many new city cars rarely go fast enough to kill anyone.
People will hate me for saying this, but I\’d like to see some crash dummy tests looking at helmets being used in old cars. I don\’t support compulsory helmets on push bikes. People could look at the facts and make up their own minds.
My daughter is presently driving her first car. It’s Pontiac Lemans with just over 22,000 KLMs. Basically a brand new 36 year old car given to her from her grandfather and it’s perfect. But here’s the thing, before she hit the road with it we had a good talk about the car. I explained that even though her car was in brand new condition there’s no way it can stop, steer, or handle like the other cars we have at home. Just like every other car on the road you need understand the limitations of the vehicle and then drive accordingly.
I\’m not a fan of any legislation along these lines BUT, the VT Commodore in the pic as an example, was a bad car to have a crash in when new, and in V6 form probably good for 200km/h. Today, most VT\’s I see should not be on the road – bouncing along on dead shocks, mismatched cheapo tyres, unlikely to pass a safety certificate in my state. Can probably still do well over 100mph though! The factory V8/ SS models usually look good and are cared for/ maintained.The answer to this situation may be annual safety certificates. if people can\’t afford to maintain a car properly, they can\’t afford to own a car – full stop.