Media Release

Thursday, 31 July 2003

A new $10 million Automotive Safety Research centre at the University of Adelaide will focus on improving safety for all road users by working with local car manufacturers, other universities and Government organisations.

Premier Mike Rann said today that the Motor Accident Commission and Transport SA will provide $1 million per year for 10 years towards the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR), to be located on the University of Adelaide's North Terrace campus. The CASR will incorporate the university's Road Accident Research Unit.

The broad operating aims of the CASR include:

• Working closely with local automotive manufacturers to enhance automotive safety and South Australia's capabilities in automotive safety research;
• Continuing to conduct commissioned safety research for such organisations as Transport SA, the Motor Accident Commission and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau;
• Developing research training programs in road safety for graduates from Australia and overseas.

The Director of the CASR will be current Road Accident Research Unit Director Professor Jack McLean, who says the new centre will build upon the considerable achievements of its predecessor, starting with a $343,000 two-year research project to be done in conjunction with Mitsubishi.

"This new project with Mitsubishi is an excellent example of how the CASR will work collaboratively with local manufacturers for the benefit of all road users," he says.

"CASR researchers will be working with Mitsubishi engineers both in Australia and in Japan to add to our understanding of what happens in the unfortunate event of a pedestrian impact with a vehicle. Our aim is to use simulation and modelling to help contribute to the development of effective pedestrian protection devices."

The University of Adelaide's Vice-Chancellor, Professor James McWha, says the State Government's significant contribution to the University was a timely reminder of the value of partnerships between universities, governments and industry.

"Automotive safety research has benefits for all of us, and I am delighted that the State Government has acknowledged the substantial efforts of Professor McLean and his team of researchers, whose work is recognised internationally," he says.

"This is yet another fine example of the way the University of Adelaide is working with industry and government to provide enormous benefits for the community."