Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles: Increased risk of accidents due to heavy loads
Research reveals braking safety concerns
Van drivers are risking accidents by failing to leave enough distance to stop, according to research by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, that shows over half of van drivers don’t know how heavy loads impact braking distances.
The majority of van drivers carry up to half a tonne of equipment on a daily basis¹ which can increase braking distances by an extra five metres to stop at 60mph – as revealed in exclusive tests carried out by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles².
Brake Testing
The brand conducted a series of tests at the MIRA Proving Grounds, with the Caddy, Transporter and Crafter carrying weights from 0-500kg at 30mph and 60mph. This showed that 30mph braking distances increase by an extra two metres with 500kg on board. At 60mph, braking distances increase by five metres.
Over half of drivers couldn’t identify how much longer a loaded van takes to stop, and just 17% knew the Highway Code stopping distances from 30mph³.
Class – leading safety comes as standard
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is a leader in van safety as the only manufacturer to offer Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) across its range as standard. Fitting AEB to all commercial vehicles in the UK has the potential to stop almost 2,500 crashes per year. AEB systems also have the potential to cut third party insurance claims by 45 per cent, meaning lower costs and less time off the road for van drivers and fleet operators. Vehicles fitted with autonomous emergency braking also benefit from an average insurance premium saving of 10 per cent compared to those without. The insurance rating of the latest Crafter was reduced by four groups thanks to standard fitment of AEB.
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¹ Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles survey, October 2018, 500 UK van drivers
² Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles test data, November 2018
³ The Highway Code states braking distances at 30mph are 14 metres with an additional 9 metres of thinking time, meaning it takes an average of 23 metres to stop
