which.co.uk says car dealers’ advice puts people at risk

Undercover researchers posing as potential customers asked 16 UK car dealerships three safety questions about popular family hatchbacks – the Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec 5-door, Nissan Qashqai 1.6 Acenta 5-door, Peugeot 307 1.6 S 5-door and Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Club 5-door. Just one in four dealers answered all of the questions satisfactorily.

> Dealers gave inconsistent advice when asked about carrying a six-month-old baby on the front-passenger seat. Fitting a rearward-facing child seat in front of an active airbag could result in injury or death.

> Electronic stability control (ESC) can prevent drivers from losing control of a car, but dealers were often unclear about its benefits and whether it was fitted as standard.

>‘Active’ head restraints can reduce whiplash, but many of the dealers did not know what they were and which cars had them.

which.co.uk (http://www.which.co.uk ) says dealers’ advice must improve so that car buyers aren’t sold short on safety. It recommends that people check what safety features are available on their chosen model before they buy.

Malcolm Coles, Editor, which.co.uk, says:
“Car safety may be streets ahead of where it was ten years ago, but too many important safety features are optional. As many shoppers have a very limited knowledge of what safety kit they need, getting good advice from a dealer is crucial.

“Our research shows it’s a lottery as to whether customers get the right information and that simply isn’t good enough. Dealerships must take more responsibility to ensure that their staff are trained to give proper advice.”

which.co.uk recommends that your next car should have the following:
> A good Which? safety score (http://www.which.co.uk/cars )
> ESC (electronic stability control)
> Side and curtain airbags
> Seat belt pre-tensioners (preferably dual)
> Seat belt load limiters
> Good Euro NCAP occupant protection, child protection and pedestrian protection scores
> A good Thatcham whiplash rating for the seats
> Isofix mounting points for your child seats (not always standard)
> Knee airbag(s), if available
> Laminated glass, if available

The which.co.uk car safety buying guide (http://www.which.co.uk/cars )
> Don’t accept a vehicle from stock unless it has all the safety features you want. ‘Special edition’ vehicles often can’t be fitted with factory-fit options like ESC, so don’t be bullied into buying one unless it has all the features you want.
> Don’t be baffled by the dealer’s tech-speak. Ask for clarification if you are not sure. And ask for a second opinion if it sounds like waffle – it could save your life.
> Carmakers use a lot of acronyms in marketing material. It’s often difficult to work out exactly what each acronym is for, so take a brochure away to study.
> Take your children and their child seats to the showroom for a trial fitting. Make sure all your children can fit safely in the vehicle using suitable restraints.
> If the dealer says something is standard equipment, ask for written confirmation (e.g. in the brochure).
> If a feature is optional, ask for written confirmation of the price.
> If a car has to be ordered to your requirements, ask for written confirmation of delivery time.
> When the car arrives, check that it matches your chosen specification. Ask the dealer to show you all the safety features.

About us
Which? is the leading independent consumer champion in the UK and has been testing products and services, as well as campaigning on behalf of the consumer, since 1957. It is committed to making individuals as powerful as the organisations they have to deal with in their daily lives. which.co.uk (http://which.co.uk ) provides up to date, impartial, expert information on thousands of products and services to help people make the right choices, whatever they’re buying.