SUBARU SAFETY ADVOCATE STORIES

Subaru is a leader in collision avoidance with all cars featuring All-Wheel Drive, and a leader in collision protection, having achieved the maximum 5-star ANCAP¹ occupant protection rating on every current model.

1.Australasian New Car Assesement Program (ANCAP) - Tested under Australian conditions.

Zach Coleman collided head on with a semi trailer and lived to tell the tale. He was driving a Subaru.   Zach was only a few kilometres from his home in Kinglake, Victoria when, on a winding hill descent, a semi trailer's brakes locked up and jack-knifed into the path of his Subaru Liberty.  He had no choice but to collide with its trailer.   Paramedics arrived at the scene and based on the damage to the vehicle believed an airlift to hospital would be needed. To their surprise, Zach could be transported via ambulance after being able to walk away from the wreckage with only minor injuries.   Zach admits lying in hospital thinking his vehicle may be repairable, based on his injuries. But after seeing the wreck, he realised there was no way it could be salvaged, and just how lucky he had been. Zach said: “Everything worked the way it was meant to and, as a result, I am here to tell the tale.”   Convinced that Subaru’s active and passive safety technologies including Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and the five star ANCAP occupant safety rating, played a major part in his survival, Zach’s next vehicle will be a Subaru.   “I will definitely be purchasing another Subaru. All the paramedics at the scene commented on Subaru’s safety and how lucky I was to be alive. No other vehicle will be considered.”

Subaru driver Thomas Berger was travelling home in his Impreza when a wombat found its way onto the road. Instinctively, Thomas swerved to miss the marsupial, but his vehicle left the tarmac and when it reached the gravel shoulder it slid and clipped a tree. The impact forced the Impreza to hit two more trees in quick succession. Amazingly, Thomas walked away with a few minor cuts and scratches and a sore shoulder. Thomas said: “I believe it was the strength of the car that saved me. "I couldn't believe it when the car started on the first attempt and got me home at four o’clock in the morning. It was lucky as I didn't have my phone and there aren’t many people on country roads at that time of the morning." Thomas' parents bought the Subaru for their children to learn to drive - they thought it was a safe option, especially for inexperienced drivers. Glad they chose a Subaru, Thomas has learnt another important lesson from the experience, "I definitely won't be swerving to miss any more wombats," he joked. The Berger family has taken delivery of a 2009 Subaru Impreza RS sedan and love their new car.

IT sales representative, John Volpato, was driving home from work in suburban Canberra in his MY07 Subaru Outback when he was T-boned at an intersection by another vehicle. The impact was so severe that his vehicle rolled several times before coming to a stop on the driver's side. Bracing himself between the steering wheel and internal door handle until the vehicle stopped, John checked himself for major injuries before trying to get out of the vehicle. John said: "...I recall at the very last moment noticing that the other car was coming straight towards me.  Fortunately it impacted mostly behind the B pillar.  I knew that there was not a lot I could do but hang on. The moment when I became a passenger to the laws of physics was pretty hair raising - but I remained calm." With almost every window broken and the cabin filled with glass, John had to climb through the passenger-side door. John continued: "...I did a quick scan of my limbs and checked they were all still working, undid my seatbelt, climbed up and out of the vehicle." Paramedics arrived soon after and asked John where the driver of the Subaru was. There were shocked faces all round when he explained that he was in fact the driver of the vehicle. After a thorough check at the hospital, John was released with only a minor cut to his left index finger, a bit of bruising and some glass embedded in his head, which was extracted by his relieved wife. He believes the Outback's five-star ANCAP safety rating was what ultimately saved his life. "My very minor injuries were testament to the build quality and safety rating of Subarus. I have since purchased another Outback - I am sticking with what I know is great product." John has recently accepted delivery of his new Outback 3.0R Premium.

I am just writing this quick note to you on behalf of my brother-in-law. Just recently my sister and neice were invloved in a highspeed head on collision. Their MY04 Impreza RS sedan took a large brunt of the hit from the other car(Toyota van). Both my sister and neice received a broken arm each but be it not for the air bags and build of the car they may have recieved worse injuries if not fatal ones. My brother-in-law and all my family thank you for building such a great and safe vehicle. They willl be buying another subaru once they have healed. Cheers, Troy Philpott. (2006 XT Forester owner) Writing on behalf of Rachel Collins and the Collins family (TAS)

Hi, I'm emailing to express my great relief that my wife was driving our MY05 Subaru Liberty Safety last Saturday when she was involved in an accident.   I truely believe the safety features of the car saved her from more serious injury or worse.  As it was she suffered severe bruising only in what could have been a major accident.   She was T-boned at an intersection while travelling at around 80km/h by a P plate driver who had their license for all of 3 weeks.   As you can see the air bags, intrusion bars and construction of the vehicle protected the driver space even though the rescue team had to cut away the door to extract her from the vehicle.   We will be buying another Subaru when the insurance comes through. Regards, Ray Hocking (via email 18 Aug 2008)