Extract from ABC News
There has been a 270 per cent increase in big ute sales since 2019. (ABC Wide Bay: Grace Whiteside)
In short:
The National Transport Research Organisation is calling on the federal government to tighten safety standards for imported large utes.
ANCAP Safety data shows there has been a 270 per cent increase in large ute sales since 2019.
What's next?
The federal government says it continually reviews road vehicle standards to ensure the market is "safe, secure and sustainable".
A national vehicle safety body is lobbying the federal government to raise safety standards for large, imported US-style pick-up trucks.
Since 2019, there has been a 270 per cent increase in sales of large utes in Australia, like RAMs and Chevrolets, according to figures from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, commonly known as ANCAP Safety.
While there is no specific Australian crash data relating to big utes, ANCAP Safety said data from the United States showed fatal pedestrian crashes involving pick-ups were four times more likely to occur during a turn than those involving cars.
US data also showed vehicles with bonnet heights above 1 metre were about 45 per cent more likely to cause pedestrian deaths.
ANCAP says data from the US shows vehicles with bonnet heights above 1 metre are about 45 per cent more likely to cause pedestrian deaths. (Supplied: ANCAP Safety)
National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) chief executive Michael Caltabiano said the growing popularity of the vehicles in Australia warranted a review of safety standards.
Michael Caltabiano is calling for importation standards for US-style utes to be lifted. (ABC News: Callum Finn)
"They're so high off the ground," he said.
"The bonnet sits so high that a child of 10 years old or younger cannot be seen.
"They're three to four-tonne vehicles, [which are] still regarded as passenger vehicles, C-class licence only required."
ANCAP is an independent body that crash-tests vehicles and conducts safety-technology assessments for consumers.
While vehicles entering Australia must comply with Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) legislation, they do not need to have an ANCAP Safety rating.
ANCAP tests crash avoidance technology, as well as other vehicle safety features. (Supplied: ANCAP Safety)
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 received an ANCAP rating of Bronze last year, with a score of 27 per cent for collision avoidance.
Mr Caltabiano is calling for the government to raise importation safety standards, and to do so quickly.
"There are safety requirements, and the federal government currently is working on an international working group to standardise what that looks like," he said.
"[But] we've got to get to a point much, much quicker where we're only importing vehicles with the latest safety technology to keep Australians safe."
The federal government says it ensures the market is "safe, secure and sustainable". (ABC Wide Bay: Grace Whiteside)
A spokesperson from the Department of Infrastructure said all road vehicles met safety, anti-theft and environmental emissions standards through the RVS.
"We continually review, consult on and update Australia's legislated road-vehicle standards to ensure road vehicles in the Australian market are safe, secure and sustainable," they said.
'Punching through' crash barriers
Mr Caltabiano also said safety infrastructure along Australian roads was not adequate for US-style utes.
"The big utes will actually punch through our existing W-Beam barriers and will overrun the existing wire-rope barriers," he said.
"They're bigger, they're faster, they're heavier, and they're punching through road crash barriers."
He said heavier vehicles also contributed to faster declines in road conditions.
"If there is already a pre-existing pothole or cracked environment where water can get in, they will accelerate the deterioration much, much quicker than just an ordinary passenger car because of the weight and the tyre size," Mr Caltabiano said.
Commercial category gaps
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) said more than 1.2 million new vehicles were sold in 2025.
ANCAP said more than 19,000 of those were large utes such as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the RAM 1500 and the Toyota Tundra.
Carla Hoorweg is eager to see the safety technology developed for passenger cars used in large utes. (Supplied: ANCAP Safety)
ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg said some large utes fell into an importation category where fewer regulations applied.
"That's because they're not really a passenger car. They're a commercial vehicle, in terms of the way things get categorised by the government," she said.
"Where regulation comes in … it sort of kicks up the bottom performers and sets a minimum threshold for them to perform to."
But she said it was pleasing to see many large ute manufacturers were already aiming for higher safety standards.
ANCAP says US-style pick-up trucks can fall into an importation category with fewer regulations. (Supplied: ANCAP Safety)
FCAI director Peter Griffin said manufacturers needed a "vehicle type approval" to import into Australia.
"That new vehicle must meet all the relevant safety standards, environmental standards, [and] performance standards that are mandated by the government," he said.
Grant Marcus says it is too early to know how much large utes affect road safety in Australia. (ABC Wide Bay: Nikki Sorbello)
Bundaberg police Chief Inspector Grant Marcus said while large utes were on his radar, it was too early to know if they were having a significant impact on road safety.
"Larger vehicles … when they collide with something, they're going to create more damage," he said.
"If they collide with a pedestrian or a cyclist or something like that, it could be quite catastrophic."
But Chief Inspector Marcus said the main cause of traffic incidents remained driver behaviour.
"Well over 90 to 95 per cent of our crashes are as a result of poor driving behaviour or driving negligence by people … not the size of the vehicle," he said.
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