The “longstanding scandal” of vehicle manufacturers failing to equip vans with the same safety technology as cars has come under focus in a new podcast from Driving for Better Business.
Part of the ‘Let’s Talk Fleet Risk’ series, the latest instalment sees Simon Turner, campaign manager for the government-backed National Highways programme and a speaker at this month’s Great British Fleet Event, join with Matthew Avery, Thatcham’s chief research strategy officer, for a lively and direct discussion.
Both organisations highlight that vehicle manufacturers have bowed to consumer pressure for safety systems on cars but failed to fit the same technology on their vans. That’s despite the proven benefits.
“Collision-avoidance technology – cameras and radars – on vehicles is highly effective, reducing the number of crashes by about 35%. It not only protects you but it’s also there to protect other road users including pedestrians and cyclists,” said Matthew Avery.
Avery added that ADAS technology hadn’t made it over to vans due to a lack of commercial pressure.
When Thatcham Research and Euro NCAP first created a new safety rating system for vans, they found driver assistance systems rarely fitted as standard. With a new, three-tier rating of platinum, gold and bronze, none reached the highest level and too many fell into the “not recommended” category.
A second set of Euro NCAP tests shows that some manufacturers are now rising to the challenge, with a standout star in the form of the Fiat Ducato, which scored the very first platinum rating.
But both Thatcham and the DfBB are warning fleets to take action to ensure they have advanced driver assistance systems fitted on their vans – both to avoid the risk of injury to drivers and to prevent vehicle downtime after a collision, which is one of the biggest costs involved.
The two organisations have also urged operators to consider specifying additional safety systems, saying that the extra cost might pay for itself many times over. And to look at safety ratings on www.Euroncap.com and see how your fleet currently rates on the league table.
Fleets can also listen to the full podcast, ‘Van Safety Ratings – how safe are your vans?’ to get further advice. To access it, click here.
Other instalments in the DfBB podcast series include: Driver Distraction: an inconvenient truth; Van Drivers & Operators: who’s aware?; NHS Hospital transport: a gigantic challenge; Safe loading – where do fleet operators get it wrong?; Driver fatigue: not just a tick box; and Driver wellbeing: How reward breeds success.
And the free DfBB Van Drivers’ Toolkit is available here: https://vandrivertoolkit.co.uk/
Driving for Better Business will also be speaking at this month’s Great British Fleet Event in Hammersmith on 29 March, where Simon Turner will discuss getting fleet safety right post-Covid. The organisation will also spotlight its Van Drivers’ Toolkit and be on hand to discuss any operational and safety fleet queries. For more details, please visit https://greatbritishfleetevent.co.uk/.
