Uber Australia sets five-star ANCAP requirement

Uber Australia has announced that all new vehicles signed up to its ride-share service from October this year will need to have a five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) – or equivalent.

Critically, this move aligns Uber Australia with Australian federal, state and territory governments that have already adopted similar policies.

While Uber Australia says the majority of its entry-level UberX trips are already taken in vehicles with five ANCAP stars, existing driver-partners that operate vehicles that do not have the maximum rating will have two years to make the change.

Uber Australia’s current requirements are for each vehicle to be less than 10 years old, in excellent working condition, have third-party insurance, and be re-inspected each year subject to state regulations.

“Uber is deeply committed to the safety of our customers, communities and everyone who shares the road,” Uber Australia head of driver Lucas Groevenveld said.

“While we believe Uber’s technology has already helped to make transport safer, for example by ensuring no trip is anonymous and GPS tracking for every trip, we also believe there are ways we can help further improve road safety in Australia.”

ANCAP chief executive James Goodwin praised Uber Australia’s move as another step towards making the roads safer for all users.

“Ride-share services are a modern convenience, and this initiative shows strong leadership,” he said. “Five-star safety is now the expected standard among Australian car buyers, and we should continue to expect that same high standard whenever we use a car.

“The introduction of this policy in Australia sees Uber join a wide range of major corporations, governments, local councils and businesses which have adopted five-star vehicle purchase and use policies in Australia in recent years.”

Is a five-star ANCAP safety rating a must for any new vehicle you purchase? Tell us what you think in the comments below.