Thatcham Research & Euro NCAP launch new van safety rating.
Van manufacturers are being urged to fit more lifesaving collision avoidance technology to their vehicles as standard after tests for a new Commercial Van Safety Rating revealed some alarming results.
The Driving for Better Business website, in a recent article, states that out of 19 vans tested, (representing 98% of new van sales in 2019) the Renault Master, Nissan NV400, Renault Trafic, Vauxhall Movano and Fiat Talento all disappointed and emerged with a ‘Not Recommended’ rating.
Only Volkswagen’s Transporter, the Ford Transit, and the Mercedes-Benz Vito were awarded a ‘Gold’ rating. Five others were rated ‘Silver’ and six ‘Bronze’.
Matthew Avery, Thatcham Research Director of Research, said: “This first batch of test results show the fitment of crucial safety technology on vans is woefully low. It’s a serious issue that needs addressing urgently, particularly with van numbers increasing and the continued surge in demand for home deliveries during the pandemic and before Christmas.”
Data from 2018 showed vans were involved in more accidents that resulted in fatal injuries to other road users, per mile travelled, than any other type of vehicle on the UK’s roads. Between 2013 and 2018, collisions involving vans were responsible for a 14% increase in the number of serious injuries to pedestrians, car occupants, and van occupants. Cyclist casualties also rose by 22%.
Tests for new Van Safety Rating has uncover alarming results, with Euro NCAP and Thatcham Research finding five vehicles failing to even achieve ‘Bronze’ standard
Data shows vans are involved in more accidents that result in fatal injuries to other road users, per mile travelled, than any other type of vehicle on the UK’s roads, yet only 12.8% of new vans sold in 2019 featured Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), compared to 62% of new cars
AEB fitment on cars has been proven to reduce rear-end collisions by 38%
The Benefits of ADAS on Commercial Vans
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Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) will apply the brakes automatically where a driver does not respond to an imminent crash ahead
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The best AEB systems can sense vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians and prevent accidents and injuries
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Tech such as Blind Spot Warning helps drivers to be aware of a vehicle in their blind spot
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Driver monitoring systems help combat tiredness or distracted driving by providing an audible alert
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Tech such as Lane Support Systems prevent unintentional drifting and help drivers stay in lane
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Speed Limiter Systems help drivers observe the correct speed limit without the need to constantly watch for speed changes
Vans, which are often the subject of a commercially-driven purchasing decision, are almost completely devoid of the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that have been proven to reduce accidents when fitted to cars. This begs the question: what price do vehicle manufacturers put on the safety of van drivers and other road users?
Only 12.8% of new vans were fitted with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) technology as standard in 2019, compared to 62% of new cars.
Article details courtesy of Driving for Better Business
