Keynotes at Testers’ Day 2025

Euro NCAP’s tests specifically for heavy trucks

Whilst heavy trucks only represent 3% of European traffic, they are involved in 15% of all fatal crashes. In pursuit of its Vision Zero target Euro NCAP therefore began testing heavy trucks in 2024 to complimenting its existing tests, providing fleet buyers and commercial operators with safety information to promote the buying of safe vehicles. New tests focus on heavy truck specific crashes and aim to promote active safety systems that are outside of new GSR2 requirements, these include unique cyclist junction crash prevention and direct and in-direct vision tests. A roadmap of future test requirements has been authored which will further pressure manufacturers to match passenger cars and these will include passive safety requirements with full scale crash tests in 2031.

The initial testing occurred in the Autumn of 2024 and the first results published in November. Long Haul tractors were the first tested and scored between 1 and 5 stars, showing that there are meaningful difference is commercial vehicle safety even today. Testing this year will look at both long haul and Distribution rigids with a timetable of different sectors being covered by 2028. With the success of these ratings Euro NCAP will begin to consider Buses and Coaches to further enhance road safety in pursuit of Vision zero.

Matthew Avery – Strategic Development Director at Euro NCAP will present the background to the program. He will present the testing in depth as well as discussing the future 2028 active safety requirements as well as the plans to introduce passive safety in 2031. Buses and coaches will also be discussed and potential plans to look at this sector later in the decade.

Header: Euro NCAP’s tests specifically for heavy trucks
Speaker: Matthew Avery, Strategic Development Director, Euro NCAP
Time: 09.15, October 2nd

Sweden’s road to Vision Zero

Sweden made a ground-breaking parliament decision in 1997 by adopting Vision Zero and stating that “No one shall be killed or seriously injured in the road traffic system” and that “The biological tolerance of the human body against external forces should be the limiting factor when designing the road transport system”. This has led to numerous innovative countermeasures on the road infrastructure and on safe road users, such as 2+1 roads with cost effective median barriers, speed safety cameras, alcohol checks and vehicle speed management to protect vulnerable road users. But from the start it was clear that vehicle safety was an equally important aspect for Vision Zero. Therefore Sweden together with UK founded Euro NCAP in 1997.

Since then fatalities have decreased by 2/3. An important reason is that 90% of passenger cars are now 5 stars and are equipped by a long list of safety systems not required by legislation but promoted by Euro NCAP. The Swedish government early on required their own passenger cars to be 5 stars and equipped by alco-locks. This was followed by requirements on alco-locks in transportation in road construction and maintenance.

We then also saw the need to rate heavy vehicles for safety like passenger cars and were strong supporters of the new heavy truck rating developed in Euro NCAP. This for the first time enables not only fleet owners, but also transportation buyers to set clear requirements on safety of their transports. It is important to be quick with feasible requirements, so crash avoidance was a natural start for the heavy truck rating. But on the longer term, we see that crash compatibility for heavy trucks to other road users is an absolute necessary next step.

Header: Sweden’s road to Vision Zero
Speaker: Rickard Fredriksson, Senior Advisor Vehicle Safety, Swedish Transport Administration
Time: 10.20, October 2nd