Euro NCAP increases commercial vehicle testing with new truck ratings

Automotive safety testing body Euro NCAP has expanded its commercial vehicle testing with a new programme for truck safety ratings.

Euro NCAP began testing commercial vehicle safety in 2021 with the introduction of a Commercial Van Rating based on the standard equipment levels found in LCVs.

The latest testing has been for large heavy goods vehicles with trials of tractor units from across the industry.

The first Truck Safe 2024 results for HGVs has awarded the maximum 5-star rating to two Volvo models. Volvo’s FM (below) and FH Aero (above) have been named as the safest trucks.

The Scania G-series and Renault Truck T tractor units were awarded a 4-star rating, while the Mercedes-Benz Actros L, Scania R-series, MAN TGX and DAF XF were all given 3-star scores. The Iveco S-Way scored the lowest, with a 1-star rating.

The introduction of the EU’s General Safety Regulation 2 (GSR2) has increased the amount of standard equipment commercial vehicle manufacturers are having to fit to their vehicles, but Euro NCAP’s more stringent testing goes further than minimum safety system requirements.

The testing looks at both active and passive safety, with Euro NCAP currently rating the trucks in two main categories, with plans for further assessment classifications at a later date.

For now, testing criteria covers Safe Driving, looking at the systems and overall design that will prevent the risk of an accident, and Collision Avoidance, where safety systems intervene to prevent and accident.

All manufacturers were invited to submit their largest tractor units for testing, with Scania and Volvo opting for additional testing of their G-series and FM models.

The DAF XF scored the highest percentage score for a full-size cab in the Safe Driving category with a score of 85%, bettered only by the 87% achieved by the smaller and lower Volvo FM.

Euro NCAP praised the XF for its vision performance, recognising it as having class leading sight lines with very deep windows, low belt lines, a lower door window and a Camera Monitoring System (CMS) replacing traditional mirrors. Unfortunately, it was let down by its Collision Avoidance score, registering only 35% with no lane support system, cyclist detection and only an adequate performance for its advance emergency braking (AEB) for vulnerable road users.

In addition to the overall star ratings, a number of vehicles were also given a City Safe Award to recognise the truck’s suitability in an urban delivery environment. As well as the DAF XF, the Volvo FH Aero, Volvo FM and Scania G-series were given City Safe status.

The Iveco S-Way has received a 1-star rating largely due to the fact that their own GSR2 compliant vehicles are in the process of being rolled out. Without adequate AEB systems and with no CMS, the S-Way tested by Euro NCAP managed only a 32% score for Safe Driving and just 19% for Collision Avoidance as it lacked Lane Support and protection systems for vulnerable road users and cyclists.

MAN also struggled with the vision aspect of their TGX (above), however, their Safe Driving score of 56% is considerably higher due to very good indirect vision thanks to a CMS and very good driver monitoring. Their Collision Avoidance score of 60% is boosted by very good Lane Support, as well as AEB systems rated as good for Truck 2 Car and vulnerable road users.

The Mercedes-Benz Actros tested was also not GSR2 compliant but scored a very respectable 72% for Safe Driving and 51% for Collision Avoidance, due to an already high standard of equipment. A lack of Class V and Class VI mirrors for the CMS also reduced its Safe Driving score.

The Renault Trucks T (below) managed a 4-star rating due to its high-quality Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), recording above average scores in both Safe Driving and Collision Avoidance. Although direct vision is an issue (rated only as adequate), very good AEB, speed assistance systems and driver monitoring bolstered its evaluation.

Scania may feel slightly disappointed by their 3-star rating for the R-series although with scores of 64% and 62%, respectively for Safe Driving and Collision Avoidance it is a far from disappointing performance. While it struggled with direct and indirect vision, very good driver monitoring and AEB for cars and vulnerable road users lifted its score. The smaller cab of the G-series meant the R-series’ main faults were addressed, which lifts its rating to 4-stars thanks to a safer driving score of 71%.

Volvo, however, showed that it is possible to have both large and medium cabs achieve maximum star ratings. Both scored highly for Collision Avoidance with 89% but the FH Aero’s 80% for Safe Driving was surpassed by the FM’s lower cab with better vision, giving it a score of 87%.  

The next phase of Euro NCAP testing will see cabs similar to the FM and G-series tested, in order to assess vehicles more commonly found in urban environments as distribution tractor units or rigid vehicles.

Euro NCAP has also confirmed that from 2030 the testing process will also include passive safety crash testing, with a head-on collision test, and look at standard-fit equipment only.