

The LDV V80 van
 that has been on sale in Australia since January 2013 has scored just
two stars in a crash safety test conducted by ANCAP (Australasian New
Car Assessment Programme).
According to the results released in a
statement overnight, the V80 rated 4.97 points out of a possible maximum
 of 16 for the frontal offset test at 64km/h. ANCAP observed that there
was "a risk of serious injury to the driver's head, chest and legs." 
While
 the V80 is sold with dual front airbags, it lacks side-impact airbags –
 a point ANCAP researchers picked up. Additionally, ANCAP pointed out
that the V80 lacks seatbelt reminders.Most importantly of all,
and by virtue of being a commercial vehicle, the V80 isn't required by
law to be fitted with stability control... so the active safety feature
that is mandatory for passenger vehicles is not fitted to the V80. 
"Under
 regulatory requirements the LDV V80 [and other light commercial
vehicles (LCVs)] is afforded a number of safety concessions. Under the
ANCAP assessment regime however, these concessions are not applicable,"
said ANCAP CEO, Nicholas Clarke.
"ANCAP requirements are more
stringent than those of regulation. ANCAP applies the same standards to
both light commercial and light passenger vehicles. This is vital in
providing consumers with transparent and easily comparable safety
ratings – whether they be looking to buy for commercial or private
purposes."
"More has to be done to encourage manufacturers to
increase the level of safety provided in LCVs. Even newly released
commercial vehicles are providing safety features as optional extras.
The question is: Why?"
"The safety of those travelling in
commercial vehicles is no less important than those travelling in
passenger cars," Clarke concluded.
The V80 is a major reworking of a design that first saw the light of day back in the 1980s as the Leyland Sherpa, built jointly with DAF.
 Initially imported and distributed here by WMC Holdings, the LDV brand
is now handled by Ateco Automotive, which recently introduced the smaller and more modern G10 model. 


Two-star ANCAP rating for LDV van

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