New van safety ratings reveal ‘alarming’ lack of safety tech
New tests that assess van protection have revealed an “alarming” absence of collision avoidance technologies staying equipped to industrial vehicles.
The Industrial Van Safety Ranking from Euro NCAP and Thatcham Research examines both the fitment and performance of highly developed driver aid units, these types of as autonomous unexpected emergency braking (AEB), speed restricting and lane-maintain help. To start the new ranking, 19 versions of van – making up 98 per cent of the Uk sector in 2019 – have been set by means of the tests.
Of these, only three – the Volkswagen Transporter, Ford Transit and Mercedes Vito – had been awarded a ‘Gold’ ranking. Five other versions obtained ‘Silver’, even though a additional 6 obtained ‘Bronze’.
Worryingly, five versions did not even regulate ‘Bronze’ a ranking, which means Euro NCAP now courses them as ‘Not recommended’. The Fiat Talento was the worst-undertaking van in the take a look at, with a rating of just five per cent. Second-worst the Vauxhall Movano, which only acquired a rating of 8 per cent. Also scoring in the ‘Not recommended’ zone had been the Renault Trafic (11 per cent), Nissan NV400 (13 per cent) and Renault Master (seventeen per cent).
Only 12.8 per cent of new vans featured AEB in 2019, in contrast with 62 per cent of new cars. This is in spite of AEB staying revealed to minimize rear stop collisions by as a great deal as 38 per cent. Vans are also included in more deadly mishaps per mile travelled than any other variety of automobile on Uk roads.
European legislation will have to have all new vans to be equipped with sure highly developed driver aid units by 2024, and Euro NCAP urged the Governing administration to deliver on its assure of signing the Uk up to these procedures, and implored van makers to consider motion prior to then.
The greater part of industrial automobile revenue are enterprise-to-enterprise, which means vans are commonly qualified at fleet potential buyers who are sometimes delighted to scrimp on optional driver aids in order to maintain expenditures down.
Matthew Avery, director of study at Thatcham Research, reported: “There is a definite absence of parity amongst the degrees of collision avoidance technologies on vans in contrast to cars. Modern-day cars have lots as normal, but vans have barely any. Brands are making a distinct decision not to in good shape this critical technologies as normal and van operators are not even buying it as a value choice.”
Avery accused makers of “withholding vital protection technologies from their vans”. He extra: “It’s a preposterous predicament mainly because the units now exist and could be equipped if they needed them to be.”
Renault issued a statement, declaring: “Safety is of the utmost great importance in the improvement of all our vehicles. We have produced vans that provide passive and lively protection capabilities that satisfy the necessities of our expert customers and are compliant with all sector restrictions where they are offered.
“In the Uk, a range of ADAS (Superior Driver Guidance Systems) capabilities are offered as an choice. We constantly watch our line-up to increase our items as nicely as the pleasure and protection of our prospects.”
Now study about the safest cars on sale…
