ANNIE ALLEN (UK Bureau Chief)
Nearly half of seven urban delivery trucks tested by Euro NCAP have failed to meet its CitySafe standard, exposing worrying gaps in technology designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
The DAF XB, Isuzu F-Series and IVECO Eurocargo missed the safety commendation, while another troubling finding cut across all seven models: none offered lane-keeping assistance to prevent a distracted driver from drifting out of lane.
Unveiling the results at the Smart City Expo in Barcelona, Euro NCAP warned that safety technology must keep pace with the growing presence of 12-tonne distribution trucks on crowded urban streets.
These vehicles power e-commerce deliveries and municipal supply chains, sharing roads with cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable users.
The IVECO Eurocargo recorded the weakest crash-avoidance performance, scoring just 20 per cent and earning two stars overall. It scored no points for frontal pedestrian and cyclist protection or protection when turning across a cyclist’s path. Euro NCAP also identified comparatively poor direct visibility.
The Isuzu F-Series also received two stars, with a crash-avoidance score of 29 per cent. Despite offering the best direct visibility among the trucks tested, it struggled with active protection for vulnerable road users and lacked intervention when turning alongside cyclists.
DAF’s XB secured three stars but missed CitySafe recognition. Its 36 per cent crash-avoidance score reflected shortcomings including the absence of cyclist protection during nearside turns.
At the other end of the rankings, the MAN TGL delivered a five-star performance and earned CitySafe status, demonstrating how much stronger protection can be.
It scored 89 per cent for Safe Driving and a category-leading 71 per cent for Crash Avoidance. Crucially, it achieved full marks in low-speed turning tests designed to protect cyclists, with a system that operates without requiring indicator activation.
The Volvo FL, Renault Trucks D and Mercedes-Benz Atego each earned four stars and CitySafe recognition.
However, the Volvo and Renault systems required indicator activation to trigger cyclist-turn interventions. The Mercedes-Benz could detect cyclists during these manoeuvres without the indicators operating.
CitySafe recognition combines strong driver visibility and hazard alerts with advanced automatic braking intended to prevent collisions with pedestrians and cyclists.
Matthew Avery, Euro NCAP’s Director of Strategic Development, described visibility and collision avoidance as “matters of life and death”.
He called the omission of lane assistance “an unacceptable blind spot that manufacturers must address”.
The findings put fleet buyers and city authorities on notice: trucks performing similar delivery duties can offer sharply different levels of protection—and good visibility alone cannot compensate for weak crash-avoidance technology.
