The Chinese built LDV V80 has scored just two stars in an ANCAP crash test due to poor occupant protection and lack of ESC.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has recently tested the LDV V80 commercial van manufactured by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) with results which disappointed the Australian vehicle safety organisation.
Whilst regulatory requirements allow certain safety concessions on light commercial vehicles, ANCAP does not. The organisation subjects light commercial vehicles to the same stringent test criteria as light passenger vehicles on the basis that van occupants should have the same rights to safety as car occupants.
As ANCAP doesn’t test for regulatory compliance, it isn’t clear whether the van would have met the legal requirements, however it doesn’t meet the expectations of the vehicle safety industry in Australia. Scoring less than 5 points out of a possible 16 in the 64kph (40mph) frontal offset crash test, the LDV V80 poses a serious risk of head, chest and leg injuries to the driver in a frontal crash.
ANCAP also noted that the lack of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) was also a limiting factor in its overall performance and the vehicle lacked side air bags for head and leg protection. The van could therefore not achieve any more than two stars.
Commenting on the different industry standards applied to vans and cars, ANCAP’s CEO, Nicholas Clarke stated that his organisation makes no distinction between different vehicle types, a vital aspect in providing transparent and easily comparable safety ratings regardless of whether the vehicle will be used for commercial or private purposes.
Bemoaning the general level of safety provided in light commercial vehicles, Mr Clarke went on to point out that even the latest vans are only provided with safety features as optional extras which just serves to provide employers with the option of providing safety or saving money and begging the question why the manufacturers would do this.
“More has to be done to encourage manufacturers to increase the level of safety provided in LCVs. The safety of those travelling in commercial vehicles is no less important than those travelling in passenger cars,” concluded Mr Clarke.
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