Safety systems to become mandatory on all new CVs from 2020

A range of advanced driver safety systems will have to be fitted on all new new commercial vehicles by 2022.

The news comes following last month’s approval of new European-wide rules aimed at significantly reducing the number of fatalities and severe injuries on the roads.

This means that all vehicle manufacturers will have to equip speed limiters and wiring for in-built breathalysers to their trucks, buses, vans and cars.

VMs will also have to fit driver distraction warning systems, reversing detectors, accident data recorders and tyre pressure monitoring devices.

New vehicles will also be required to be fitted with electronic data recorders that store data on the vehicle’s status in the moments immediately before a collision.

The new rules also say trucks and buses must be designed and manufactured in such a way that the blind spots around the vehicle are significantly reduced. Furthermore, they will have to be equipped with advanced systems capable of detecting pedestrians and cyclists located in proximity to the vehicle.

Vans and cars have, however, the additional requirement of being fitted with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping systems, as well as enlarged head impact protection zones capable of mitigating injuries in collisions with vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

The European Parliament approved the safety measures back in March after the European Council rubber-stamped the plans.