Ford Transit and Transit Custom are two of the top-performing vans for active safety on sale in Europe today, according to new testing by independent vehicle safety authority Euro NCAP.
In an all-new initiative, Euro NCAP tested the performance and effectiveness of active safety systems on 19 of Europe’s best-selling vans. The analysis assessed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) when approaching vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, as well as lane keeping technology, speed limit recognition and occupant monitoring systems.
Transit received a Gold award for its suite of available active safety features while Transit Custom earned a Silver award. Euro NCAP also specifically commended Ford’s AEB system, recognising Pre-Collision Assist technology with Pedestrian Detection as a clear class-leading feature.
Transit recorded the only perfect 100 per cent score across all vehicles and features for its Traffic Sign Recognition functionality; its AEB was also noted as the best for cyclist protection.
“We know that safety is the top priority for businesses both protecting their staff and other road users,” said Stuart Southgate, director, Safety Engineering, Ford of Europe. “We’re delighted that Euro NCAP recognised the range and effectiveness of our active safety technologies. These systems protect the occupants and either mitigate or eliminate serious incidents. By doing this the advanced technologies both reduce personal injuries and minimise time off road for repairs.”
Euro NCAP used the same criteria to compare each van’s active safety features. All vehicles were driven on a test track, loaded with 50 per cent of their maximum payload to give results representative of real-world operations.
Simulations tested driver warning and AEB action when approaching parked vehicles or slower traffic, as well as when a vehicle in front brakes sharply. Euro NCAP also assessed responses to a child running into the road, and cyclists and pedestrians walking in or crossing the road.
In addition to protecting road users, active safety systems can also contribute to increased uptime and save on expensive repair and insurance costs by helping to prevent avoidable collisions.
Transit and Transit Custom offer a full suite of advanced active safety and driver assistance technologies, including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane-Keeping System, Blind Spot Information System, and Active Park Assist.
