Euro NCAP wants to make fleets safer with new protocol
Safety watchdog Euro NCAP is updating its safety protocol to keep up with the latest developments in automotive technology. The updated program, called Vision 2030: a Safer Future of Mobility, will come into effect in 2026 and represents a more proactive approach to everything that directly or indirectly affects safety.
As cars are shifting to assisted, automated and connected driving technology alongside battery-powered drivelines, Euro NCAP wants to adjust its testing procedure accordingly. The organisation already assesses ADAS systems today but will elaborate further on rewarding or penalising cars for offering the technology. As such, the new assessment will be scheduled along four distinct phases of a potential crash: safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection and post-crash safety.
The scope of the revised program is quite extensive and aims at incorporating virtual testing and introducing a rating incentive for a range of driver monitoring systems. Vision 2030: a Safer Future of Mobility pursues the goal of reducing fatalities in traffic accidents to zero by the end of the decade. It will also focus on gender and age-related safety, the fire risk of thermal runaway in the batteries of electric vehicles, examine the human-machine interface and simulate real road environments, amongst others.
Moving beyond cars, Euro NCAP wants to expand on light commercial vehicles and two-wheelers since both are increasingly represented in Europe’s fleet. Currently, the organisation only performs ADAS tests on vans, but no crash tests.
“Euro NCAP sees an opportunity to act as a catalyst for accelerating uptake and promoting best practice, not just for passenger cars but also in the commercial vehicle fleet.”, concludes CEO of Euro NCAP Michiel van Ratingen.
Image Source: Euro NCAP
