ANCAP’s safety grading system for commercial vans explained
Commercial vans are effectively mobile offices for the professionals who rely on them, racking up more time on our roads than many other vehicles. This can put the vehicles at greater likelihood of being involved in an incident, and alike, other road users at a greater risk of being involved in an incident with them.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has identified this, implementing a specific grading system to be applied to commercial vans.
Unlike conventional ANCAP safety scores – that average a vehicle’s rating across a set of multifaceted assessments including crash tests – the commercial van grading system looks purely at advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) fitted and their ability to prevent an accident in the first place.
Van models receive a grade based on the safety features available, and an average of their scores for effectiveness, that will translate to either Platinum (80-100 per cent), Gold (60-79 per cent), Silver (40-59 per cent), Bronze (20-39 per cent), or Not Recommended (0-19 per cent).
Safety systems assessed include collision avoidance, low- and high-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane support systems (LSS), speed assistance systems (SAS), and occupant detection systems. Assessments cover all ADAS equipment a model can be fitted with – whether as standard or optional equipment.
Platinum has been awarded to the Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit Custom, Hyundai Staria-Load, and Mercedes-Benz eSprinter, Sprinter, eVito and Vito.
The Ford Transit and Transit Custom, LDV Deliver and eDeliver 7, and Toyota Hiace have all been awarded Gold, while the Iveco Daily, Peugeot Expert, Renault Trafic, Volkswagen Crafter all score Silver.
Renault Master and Peugeot Boxer have been graded as Bronze, with the LDV G10 the only model to receive a Not Recommended score at this stage. Fleet managers and van operators can stay abreast of crash avoidance technology and active safety features in their vehicles by visiting the ANCAP website for an updated list of safety ratings for commercial vans.
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