Volvo Trucks get five star rating

In a historic first, the European consumer testing organisation Euro NCAP has evaluated the safety of extra-heavy commercial trucks, with Volvo Trucks' flagship models — the Volvo FH and Volvo FM — achieving the top rating of five stars, with the Volvo FM achieving the highest overall score among all tested trucks.

The Volvo FH and FM Aero models excelled across all safety metrics, earning the prestigious City Safe award, which recognises vehicles designed to protect vulnerable road users in urban environments.

“This remarkable achievement confirms Volvo Trucks’ leadership in safety,” said Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks. “Safety is one of our core values and has been a cornerstone of our heritage since the company’s inception. With every new product, we push the boundaries to make our trucks even safer.”

Setting a New Benchmark for Truck Safety

Euro NCAP’s five-star rating underscores Volvo Trucks’ exemplary performance in key areas such as driver support and collision avoidance, enhancing safety for both drivers and road users. The City Safe criteria further highlight the Volvo FM and FH's superior visibility and active safety systems, crucial for navigating urban traffic.

Anna Wrige Berling, Volvo Trucks’ Director of Traffic and Product Safety, emphasised the broader impact of these results. “This recognition validates our commitment to exceeding legal safety standards as we strive towards a future with zero accidents involving our trucks. Euro NCAP ratings will not only help customers make informed decisions but also encourage manufacturers to innovate continuously.”

Global Safety Standards Reflect Volvo’s Commitment

Volvo Trucks extends these safety innovations globally, including in South Africa, where the same rigorous standards apply despite differing local regulations. By investing in advanced safety systems and training, the company aims to enhance road safety and protect all road users.

Euro NCAP, established in 1996 and headquartered in Belgium, is renowned for setting the safety benchmark for passenger vehicles across Europe. With its first foray into heavy commercial vehicles, the organisation assessed trucks across three key areas:

- Safe driving: Including driver monitoring, vision systems, and speed assistance.
- Collision avoidance: Evaluating performance in avoiding crashes with cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, as well as low-speed manoeuvring and lane departure incidents.
- Post-crash readiness: Focusing on rescue information and emergency response.

Euro NCAP plans to expand its truck testing criteria to include crash protection and vehicles across different transport segments, further raising the bar for safety standards.

Volvo Trucks’ success in these inaugural tests underscores its dedication to road safety and innovation, setting a new benchmark for the global trucking industry.

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UD Trucks expanding its Ultimate Women programme

UD Trucks Southern Africa (UDTSA) has announced the expansion of its ‘Ultimate Women Programme’ in collaboration with the Commercial Transport Academy (CTA).

Following the programme's success over the past two years, the CTA has launched its inaugural Bus Driver Development Programme. This initiative is a joint effort involving the CTA, Southern African Bus Operators Association (SABOA), Clarendon Transport Underwriting Managers (CTU) and UDTSA. Around 30 women trainees will benefit from this transformative programme, and to bolster the training process, UDTSA has provided CTA with a new Croner Bus PKE 280 65-Seater.

The ‘Ultimate Women Programme’ by UDTSA was initiated in 2022 with the goal of promoting gender transformation within the transport industry. At its launch, UDTSA donated two new Kuzer light-medium duty trucks.

Nicci Scott, the founder of the Commercial Transport Academy, says: “We are delighted to partner with UDTSA in our shared vision of increasing female representation in the transport industry and fostering an equitable society. The programme has made significant strides since its inception and we are immensely grateful to UDTSA for their unwavering support and the profound impact this has had on the lives of these young women.

“With the new focus on training bus drivers, we are committed to working closely with all our partners to ensure the successful completion of the programme.”

Participants in the Bus Driver Development Programme will undergo a comprehensive 12-month training course that will include technical modules on vehicle operation and control, defensive driving techniques, traffic laws and regulations and route navigation or planning.

Additionally, the programme will feature a strong theoretical component, covering essential topics such as stress management, professionalism and effective passenger communication.

Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director of UD Trucks Southern Africa, remarked: “Our partnership with CTA has been transformative in our ongoing mission to empower women in our industry and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve. Expanding the programme to include bus driver training underscores the success of this important initiative and our commitment to creating a better life for people, the planet, and the logistics sector.

“We wish the new candidates a fruitful journey in the coming months and are confident they will contribute to a brighter future.”

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Consider the trucks - be safe

Have you ever considered that sneaky little gap you took to get ahead of a truck in the traffic is the space it needs to slow down safely and if the traffic does come to a sudden halt you are likely to become that truck’s hood ornament.

Think about it!!!

“Truck drivers tend to have a bad reputation, and unfairly so. Many are some of the most experienced drivers on the road if you consider the number of kilometres travelled in their career, to the number of accidents,” points out Ryan Gaines, CEO of City Logistics, a privately-owned logistics company in South Africa. 

Here truck drivers share some guidelines they implore road users to consider when travelling this festive season.

While you consider the trucks, think about a new car - CHANGECARS

Keep a safe travelling distance

According to drivers at City Logistics, it’s vitally important to keep a safe distance from trucks – because they carry extremely heavy loads and they’re unable to come to a complete halt immediately. Due to the size and weight of these trucks, it takes at least 200 metres to 300 metres – or approximately 60 seconds – for trucks to come to a complete stop. 

Stay in sight

Motorists should always remember to stay in sight. There’s a simple rule: if a motorist is travelling behind a truck and cannot see the truck’s mirrors or cameras (which replace mirrors on many modern trucks), the truck driver cannot see that motorist. It's most important not to follow directly behind the truck, as the motorist becomes invisible – because he/she is effectively in a blind spot.

Avoid overtaking with sudden stopping

Motorists should also never pull in front of a truck and then slam on the brakes, especially when travelling downhill. There is a possibility that the load being drawn cannot be stopped by the brakes, as the momentum of the weight presses the trailer – and its load – forward. This is especially dangerous for trucks that are carrying liquid. Sharp braking will propel that liquid forward.

Many trucking and logistics companies ensure their drivers are highly trained, and that their trucks are well maintained, modern and safe. Drivers, for example, undergo intense training programmes and the rigorous training necessary to obtain an EC (Code 14) licence. According to Daimler’s Fleetboard telematics system, the drivers at City Logistics for example are rated 9/10 (the industry average is 7/10).

“If motorists are able to consider this advice from truck drivers, we can all contribute to safer travelling conditions this festive season,” he concludes.

Colin Windell

proudly CHANGECARS

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Colin-on-Cars: Safety levels improving

Safety specification included as standard on local entry-level vehicles is improving, according to the latest Automobile Association (AA) Entry-Level Vehicle Safety Report (ELVS).

The value threshold for vehicles considered has been raised to R270 000 and 38 vehicles are included in this year’s Report that assessed the safety features as stated in the written literature of the vehicles in available printed or online brochures. The Report does not consider the structural integrity of the driver/passenger compartment.

Categories

The 38 vehicles are categorised into three groups based on their safety ratings. These categories are Acceptable Safety, Moderate Safety, and Poor Safety.

In the report, four vehicles are categorised as having Poor Safety, 23 are placed in the Moderate Safety category, and 11 vehicles are placed in the acceptable Safety category.

In terms of true safety points attained, points of 20 or less are considered as having ‘poor’ safety. Safety points between 20 and 50 can be considered as having ‘moderate’ safety and safety points of 50 and above can be considered as having ‘acceptable' safety.

“The fact so many vehicles offer moderate or acceptable safety is extremely encouraging and indicates manufacturers are taking the presence of critical vehicle safety equipment seriously. This is a good trend, and we hope to see even fewer vehicles in the poor category in the years ahead,” says the AA.

Context

Two important figures provide context for the development of the ELVS: South Africa’s high annual road fatality figures, and the growing vehicle population in the country. In 2021, the country recorded 12 541 road fatalities. The current vehicle population in the country – according to official figures from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) – is 11 726 476, with just more than 7,6-million being motor vehicles and some 2,6-million being LDVs/Bakkies.

“The purpose of the research is to provide consumers with a starting point for vehicle purchases, be they new or second-hand. We point out what safety features are stated as being available on these vehicles and urge consumers to consider these a priority as part of their decision-making process,” says the AA.

The Association points out, however, this research does not provide a definitive measure of a vehicle’s safety which can only be determined through crash-testing.

Population

“The data presented in the ELVS, nonetheless, provides an indication of a vehicle’s safety equipment. The large vehicle population and the country’s high road fatality figure point to a need for extensive road safety education and the need for better road safety management in the country. They also point to a need for consumers to prioritise safety in the vehicles they purchase. The ELVS Report should serve as a basis for their research,” the AA says.

The 38 vehicles surveyed for the 2022 ELVS Report were evaluated against the number of active safety features they have (anti-lock braking systems, electronic stability control), and passive safety features (crash bags). Points are awarded to vehicles for the existence of each of the active and passive safety features. Additional points are awarded to vehicles crash tested under the NCAP system, in this case, Global NCAP’s #SaferCarsforAfrica programme.

Positive

Of the 38 vehicles researched in 2022, 34 are equipped with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and 33 are equipped with driver and passenger crash bags. Despite this positive showing, only seven vehicles researched have Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The least common safety feature was curtain crash bags (no vehicles) and side crash bags (only one vehicle).

In 2019, the AA supported the #StopTheCrash partnership to demonstrate the effectiveness of, amongst other technologies, ESC and ABS. The technologies which were showcased have the potential to save thousands of lives every year, and the United Nations has developed international standards to help encourage countries around the world to mandate these life-saving technologies.

Seriously

“The inclusion of these safety features protects motorists, it’s as simple as that. The inclusion of ESC, for instance, must be considered more seriously by manufacturers as this is a proven technology, which can reduce road crashes. We reiterate our call that this technology comes as standard for entry-level vehicles available in South Africa,” says the AA.

In addition to scoring the vehicles purely on safety features and awarding true safety points, the ELVS Report also considers safety weighed against affordability. In this scenario, the score achieved by a vehicle for its safety features is measured against its cost to arrive at a Safety/Affordability Score. The Index can be used as a guide to understanding the ‘Affordability of Safety’ proposition of vehicles.

Acceptable

For this report, a score of four points and above can be seen as ‘acceptable safety/affordability’, a score between three and 3,99 points can be seen as ‘moderate safety/affordability’, whereas 2,99 points and below can be seen as ‘poor safety/affordability’.

In 2022, five vehicles fall under the ‘acceptable safety/affordability’ category, eight vehicles fall under the ‘moderate safety/affordability’ category, and 25 vehicles fall under the ‘poor safety/affordability’ category.

The full ELVS 2022 is available at https://bit.ly/3OkSzzC

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Colin-on-Cars - Saving lives by waving

Sometimes it is the really simple things that save lives.

By teaching young schoolchildren to Stop, Look and Wave, Volvo Trucks South Africa has reached 7 589 learners across South Africa in the past three months.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the lives of approximately 1,3-million people are cut short annually because of a road traffic crash. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged between 5 and 29 years, and more than half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

Vulnerable

Through the company’s own traffic research analysis of real-life accidents, it became clear that most road accidents involve human behaviour, and that children are the most vulnerable of all road traffic users. 

In 2015, Volvo Trucks took a step towards trying to improve this distressing statistic and launched the Stop Look Wave campaign, also here in South Africa. Since then, tens of thousands of learners in both rural and urban schools across the country have participated in the programme.

“Over the years, Volvo Trucks has developed many pioneering safety features for its products to limit the impact of traffic accidents on people,” says Valentia Hobbs, Volvo Trucks South Africa’s marketing and corporate affairs director. “Stop, Look, Wave is specifically aimed at helping children understand how to best behave around trucks, buses and cars, and to ultimately keep them safe on the roads.”

Discussion

The interactive activations facilitate conversations with the participating children, and the message is brought home through various song and dance activities. 

Discussion and practical demonstrations also include information on the size of trucks and buses, their uses, when and how they operate, as well as the need for road users to be as visible as possible to the truck drivers. 

“Part of the message to the children includes the fact that even though we can see a truck, we cannot be sure that the truck driver sees us due to the vehicle’s height and size,” explained Hobbs. “They are taught to stop, look and if possible, wave at the driver to get his or her attention before crossing a road, even if it is at a pedestrian crossing.”

Safety

Utilising the advances in technology, Volvo Trucks create smart safety systems that are designed to monitor the truck behaviour and surrounding traffic to predict safety hazards and intervene to prevent accidents from happening. 

The systems may be out of sight, but they are engineered to activate and support the driver in various traffic situations, and in the process, make the trucks as safe as possible for the driver and all other road users.

“The Stop, Look, Wave programme is an extension of our vision to provide safer and more efficient transport solutions that form part of a society’s sustainable development,” concluded Hobbs.

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Colin-on-Cars - Reducing workplace vehicle crashes

With some 40% of workplace deaths the result of vehicle crashes, companies need to put in place a culture of road safety for at word drivers.

South Africa crash statistics are way higher than international levels and this serves to highlight the importance of actively trying to reduce the number of crashes that occur amongst fleets.

The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, adds: “Not only does it show how important it is to take measures to reduce workplace crashes but also shows the importance of giving an honourable nod to companies committed to road safety and that take active steps to reduce the occurrence of this within their companies.

Recognise

“It is for this reason MasterDrive presents its inaugural Fleet Safety Awards, which will recognise and honour companies and individuals that make this commitment to road safety. Through the awards we hope to pay homage to companies that take the issue of road safety as seriously as we do by making it a part of their company ethos, starting at the top of the organisation and trickling its way throughout to every member that gets behind the wheel.”

More information on MasterDrive’s Fleet Safety Awards will be released soon. Nominations for companies deserving of this honour are already open. Should you know of a company that you believe is paragon of road safety with the corporate world, please email  info@masterdrive.co.za to obtain more information about what is required to qualify and how to make your nomination.

Experience

The event will feature international speakers who will share their experience in the road safety arena along with a number of other speakers. The winner will be selected by an independent panel of judges based on specific criteria. The event will also be MasterDrive’s first hybrid event enabling a selected number of people to join in person.

Internationally, road safety policies within companies are given the utmost priority.

“Unfortunately, in South Africa there are only a limited number of companies, often with international presence, that give the issue of road safety as much priority. Conversely, there are a large number of companies that do not grasp the importance of doing everything possible to prevent road accidents. As a society we need to change this perception and the belief that the stats we see are as a result of the actions of other drivers and not our ourselves.

Attention

“MasterDrive believes that by lauding the companies that give road safety the attention it needs, it will encourage others to follow their example. We spend much time raising awareness of road safety and common issues that affect this. It is now time to show appreciation for the organisations that take these issues seriously. Your efforts do not go unnoticed by MasterDrive!,” says Herbert.

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Colin-on-Cars - Five stars for Mustang Mach-E

The latest safety releases from Euro NCAP show an interesting mix of top end results, especially for Ford where the Mustang Mach-E gets tops marks while the 5,0-litre V8 version battled to get three stars in 2017.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Tucson and the Toyota Yaris Cross all achieve a top rating of five stars, while the new Hyundai Bayon is awarded four stars.Mustang Mach-E

Ford’s new all-electric crossover SUV, the Mustang Mach-E, bears little resemblance to the 5,0-litre muscle car with which it shares its name and firmly secures a top five-star rating against the latest test requirements.

The car comes equipped with a centre crash bag, deployable bonnet for vulnerable road user protection and a host of advanced driver assistance features, offering high levels of driver support and crash prevention all around.

Hyundai Bayon

Hyundai impresses with three new models in this publication, the all-electric Ioniq 5 and Tucson, gaining 5-star ratings and Hyundai Bayon achieving 4 stars. Although the Tucson only just clears the hurdle in Safety Assist to get into five-star territory, both Ioniq 5 and Tucson display good all-round safety.

The crossover SUV Bayon, fighting its way into an already overcrowded and highly competitive segment, lacks the centre crash bag that is standard in Ioniq 5 and Tucson. Nevertheless, the Bayon comes with robust crash protection and crash-avoidance features which help to secure it a creditable four-star rating.

The Toyota Yaris Cross follows hot on the heels of the Mirai and Yaris with another five-star rating. The car, available at petrol and HEV petrol, was tested partly in Australia and Europe, two important markets for the Yaris Cross. The result is published in collaboration with sister organisation ANCAP.

Ford Transit Custom

In addition to its traditional safety crash and safety tests, Euro NCAP retested two light commercial vans: the Ford Transit and the Ford Transit Custom, after Ford made seat belt reminders as standard for all occupants across the European market.

NCAP’s Michiel van Ratingen, says: “Vehicle use in road traffic is the most significant contributor to work-related traumatic injury, so small improvements, especially those that promote seatbelt wearing, can go a long way. Congratulations to Ford for updating their two commercial vans and making the effort of putting seat belt reminders as standard for drivers and co-drivers.”

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Colin-on-Cars - Promising research to prevent aquaplaning

Rain, as every South African driver knows, brings with it a host of additional on-road dangers, not the least of which is aquaplaning when heavy rain outweighs the drainage capability of the road surface and leaves large stretches of water.

Coventry University researchers are hoping to save lives through a new device they have developed to prevent vehicles from aquaplaning and losing traction control due to adverse road conditions. 

Professor Mike Blundell and Ravi Ranjan from Coventry University’s Research Centre for Future Transport and Cities have produced the Run Dry Traction System (RDTS) following a two-year research project.  

The prototype product aims to prevent aquaplaning and loss of traction in a variety of road conditions. Aquaplaning, also referred to as hydroplaning, happens when a layer of surface water builds up between a vehicle’s tyres and the road surface, leading to a complete loss of grip. This can occur with as little as 2-3 mm of standing water on the road surface when vehicles are travelling at a variety of speeds and is a leading cause of road traffic accidents. 

The RDTS presents a novel potential solution to aquaplaning and the loss of traction by preventing water and other contaminants from reaching the tyre. The device works by firing a jet of compressed gas close to the front of the wheel, removing surface water in front of the tyre to ensure the vehicle has a dry patch of road ahead. This effectively ensures grip is not compromised by road contaminants such as water, sand and gravel. 

Professor Mike Blundell, Professor of Vehicle Dynamics and Impact at Coventry University, said: “Our tests demonstrate that RDTS has the potential to make a huge impact on vehicle safety in a whole host of conditions. The prospect of producing something that could even save lives on the road is extremely exciting and after some initial success with testing, we’re now eager to look into manufacturing potential and further research to take this concept to the next level.  

“A device like this really could be the difference between life and death if it can help vehicles to stop safely within certain distances and that’s why we’re so keen to continue developing this concept.” 

The RDTS has been designed to be fitted to a wide range of vehicles, including cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles and with further development, it could even have the potential to be used to improve aircraft ground operations and rail transport safety. 

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 Improving pedestrian visibility

The Automobile Association (AA), in collaboration with the FIA Region I, has distributed another 10 000 high visibility sashes to commuters at various taxi ranks in Gauteng as part of its #ISeeYou campaign. The campaign, launched in 2017, aims to make pedestrians more visible to motorists and is part of the AA’s ongoing road safety campaigns. 

Funding for the #ISeeYou campaign was provided through FIA Region I and its member clubs ACP, ADAC, ANWB, AvD, FDM, ÖAMTC, RACE and TCS, and in conjunction with sister clubs throughout sub-Saharan Africa. 

“FIA Region I is extremely proud of this initiative, which shows how much our network can make a concrete contribution to road safety in South Africa and beyond. These small steps, put together, make a difference!” says Laurianne Krid, Director General at FIA Region I. 

According to StatsSA’s National Household Travel Survey 2020, about 17,4-million South Africans walk all the way to their destination daily. In addition, the report also highlights that about 10,1-million learners walk all the way to their educational institution. In total, this represents more than 27-million vulnerable road users who are pedestrians on South African roads daily.

 

A critical component of the #ISeeYou campaign is to urge pedestrians to wear reflective sashes which are easier for drivers to see. The campaign seeks to provide reflective sashes to as many pedestrians as possible. Within the campaign, a mechanism has been provided for individuals and corporates to make donations to fund the purchase and distribution of more sashes. Anyone interested in contributing to the campaign can visit www.aa.co.za to make a donation. In this way many more South Africans could make it home safely at night. 

A major boost for the campaign this year came from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). Members of the JMPD’s Community Outreach division assisted the AA to distribute high-visibility sashes, and information pamphlets, at all the venues in Johannesburg. 

“Up to 40% of all road deaths on South African roads annually are pedestrians and we consider initiatives such as the #ISeeYou campaign critical to improving road safety, and to reducing these horrific numbers. In addition to highlighting the need for greater pedestrian visibility, the campaign also seeks to drive increased mutual respect between motorists and pedestrians hence the name of the campaign: I See You,” says Willem Groenewald, CEO of the AA. 

To foster this mutual respect, the AA urges motorists to focus on the roads they are driving on, to watch their speeds in high traffic areas, and to be aware of pedestrians wherever they are driving. 

Willem says pedestrians face many obstacles to safe travel, including wearing dark clothing, or being forced to cross busy roads because there is no sufficient infrastructure for them to cross where it’s safe to do so. 

“Another big danger for pedestrians – especially those who walk on dimly lit or unlit roads – is that they are ‘invisible’ to motorists who may only see them when it’s too late to avoid hitting them. Our message to pedestrians is clear: making yourself more visible could save your life,” he says. 

As a start to this year’s initiative, high visibility sashes were distributed at the Randburg Taxi Rank, Bree Street Taxi Rank, Thembisa Taxi Rank, Mamelodi Station Taxi Rank, Bloed Street Taxi Rank in Pretoria, and Germiston Taxi Rank. 

“As a society we have to acknowledge that pedestrian safety must enjoy much more attention than it is currently receiving. Looking at the statistics we see that dealing more effectively with pedestrian safety will save lives, and will greatly impact on our appalling road fatality statistics,” says Willem. 

The #ISeeYou campaign is also being run in Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya and Rwanda.  In addition to the ‘live’ activations at taxi ranks, the #ISeeYou campaign also features print, radio and television advertising to re-enforce the high visibility messaging.