Improvements in vehicle safety standards since the 1990s have played an important role in making UK vehicles safer. However, until now, it has not been possible to measure safety ratings equally across different modes. From April 2023, this has changed with HGVs now included in Euro NCAP ratings.
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) – a voluntary programme that sets safety criteria and tests vehicles provided by manufacturers – has been key in encouraging improvements to car and van safety. Cars and vans are currently awarded a star rating of 0–5, and test results are readily available online https://www.euroncap.com/.
The aim of Euro NCAP is to help consumers and encourage manufacturers to raise safety standards above the regulatory requirements. The assessment looks at different qualities: vehicle occupant protection (including child protection in cars), autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with detection for other vehicles, people walking or cycling, automated lane-keeping systems, speed assist systems, and attention assist (for vans). In order to receive a 5-star rating, cars and vans must perform well across all areas.
Since April 2023, the scheme has expanded to include Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs)[1]. This is important because, in Great Britain, the majority of those killed in collisions with HGVs are other road users. [2] Across the continent heavy trucks represent almost 1.5% of vehicles on Europe’s roads and are involved in almost 15% of all EU road fatalities. [3] Vision Zero will not be reached without tackling the challenges presented by trucks on our roads.
There are opportunities to embed safety in vehicle design by including it alongside incentives to meet other policy areas. As manufacturers are being encouraged to reduce emissions, there are opportunities to require vehicles to meet safety standards too. This chance should not be missed.
[1] Safer Trucks – On the road to Vision Zero (euroncap.com)
[2] Reported road casualties Great Britain, annual report: 2021 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
[3] Based on data extracted from Eurostat and ERSO, 2017. Traffic Safety Basic Facts 2017: Heavy Goods Vehicles and Buses, Brussels: The European Road Safety Observatory supported by the European Commission
