Euro NCAP’s SAFER TRUCKS programme has won the 2025 Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, a milestone that highlights growing urgency around heavy-duty vehicle safety in Europe.
Presented in London by HRH Prince Michael, the award signals a shift in industry focus toward protecting vulnerable road users and raising standards for commercial vehicles.
“Trucks have been overlooked for too long,” said Matthew Avery, Euro NCAP’s Director of Strategic Development. “This award shows the industry is ready for change. We’re committed to ensuring every truck—from city tippers to long-haul tractors—meets a high safety standard.”
Why This Matters
HGVs make up just 3% of vehicles on Europe’s roads but account for 15% of fatalities. Alarmingly, 90% of those killed in truck crashes are vulnerable road users. These figures underline why Euro NCAP launched SAFER TRUCKS in 2024, delivering the first independent HGV safety ratings. Since then, several models have earned five-star scores, and more manufacturers are engaging with the protocol, treating safety as a competitive advantage.
Raising the Bar
The SAFER TRUCKS programme introduced Euro NCAP’s new Stages of Safety framework, which examines Safe Driving features, Crash Avoidance performance and Post-Crash Safety, including ease of rescue.
By 2028, the framework will expand to include full-width crash tests and assessments of city-focused utility trucks such as tippers, refuse vehicles, and delivery fleets.
“We’re evolving the protocol to match real-world risks,” Avery added. “Truck safety must keep up with changing mobility.”
A Turning Point for Industry
With fleets now guided by star ratings and the CitySafe label—which highlights trucks designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists—manufacturers are already improving designs and safety tech. The award reinforces this momentum, marking a critical step toward safer mobility as commercial traffic continues to rise across Europe.
Since 1987, the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards have honoured global leaders in reducing road deaths. Euro NCAP’s SAFER TRUCKS initiative now stands among them, pushing Europe closer to its Vision Zero goals.
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