This paper updates and extends the methods in a previous paper which gave crashworthiness ratings for makes/models of Australian cars manufactured during 1982-90. The new results used logistic regression to take into account a larger number of factors which were found to be strongly related to the injury risk and injury severity of drivers. The data covered 220,000 drivers involved in towaway crashes in New South Wales during 1987-92, and a total of 45,000 drivers injured in crashes in Victoria and New South Wales during the same period. The crashworthiness ratings measured the risk of a driver being killed or admitted to hospital when involved in a tow-away crash. The ratings were able to identify 26 makes/models manufactured during 1982-92 which have superior or inferior crashworthiness compared with the average vehicle.

The relationship between crashworthiness and year of manufacture was investigated using the same analysis methods and an expanded data set including pre-1982 vehicles. The data covered 424,000 drivers involved in towaway crashes and 102,000 injured drivers. The crashworthiness of passenger cars in Australia showed the greatest improvements for those manufactured over the years 1970 to 1979 during which a number of new Australian Design Rules aimed at occupant protection took effect. There was a 47% reduction in the risk of serious injury for drivers involved in tow-away crashes while driving the post-1979 cars compared with those manufactured during the 1960's.