Safety isn’t just airbags: active, passive and post-crash protection

Van safety usually falls into three main categories:

Active safety: systems designed to help avoid a crash (for example stability control, lane support, and automatic emergency braking).

Passive safety: protection if a crash happens (for example airbags and restraint systems).

Post-crash (tertiary) safety: features that help after an impact (for example hazard warnings, automatic door unlocking, and access for rescue).

For tradespeople and fleet operators, active safety often provides the biggest day-to-day benefit because many incidents occur at lower speeds, in traffic, at junctions, or while manoeuvring.

What Ford includes (and what may depend on trim)

Ford’s UK Transit Custom documentation lists key braking and stability technologies such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Trailer Sway Control, Hill Start Assist, traction control, and ABS. Availability can vary depending on the vehicle series, trim level, and optional packages, so it’s important to check your exact build specification.

Ford also explains its Pre-Collision Assist system as using sensors to scan the road ahead, warning the driver if a potential collision risk is detected (including with pedestrians or cyclists), and applying braking if the driver does not respond in time.

A quick buyer or fleet checklist

When buying, leasing, or setting up a fleet policy, it helps to confirm the following:

Which driver-assistance systems are standard on your trim level and which are optional packages.

Whether features are enabled by default and how drivers should respond to system alerts or warnings.

Whether accessories such as bull bars, additional lighting, or stickers could interfere with vehicle sensors.

Euro NCAP: the Transit Custom’s latest commercial van safety result

Euro NCAP now publishes Commercial Van Safety Ratings that focus on real-world crash avoidance and post-crash support. These ratings are designed specifically for vans and are not directly comparable with the traditional car star-rating system.

In Euro NCAP’s 2025 Commercial Van Safety results, the Ford Transit Custom (2nd generation, 2023 onward) received a five-star rating. Headline scores included Safe Driving 80%, Crash Avoidance 93%, and Post-Crash Safety 80%.

Does a safer van mean cheaper insurance?

Safety technology can be positive from a risk-management perspective, but insurance pricing is not guaranteed to fall simply because a model performs well in safety tests. Premiums are usually based on a mix of factors such as driver history, vehicle use (business vs social and domestic), mileage, location, claims trends, security, vehicle value, repair costs, and each insurer’s pricing model.

What you can do is make sure your quote details are accurate — trim levels and optional packages can matter — and ensure drivers understand what the vehicle’s safety systems do and what they cannot do. Proper driver awareness helps technology support safer driving without encouraging overconfidence.

Sources

Euro NCAP — Commercial Van Ratings programme overview View source

Euro NCAP — Ford Transit Custom commercial van safety article (5 stars; 2023-on generation) View source

Euro NCAP — Ford Transit Custom 2025 results sheet (PDF) View source

Euro NCAP — Commercial Van Safety 2025 overview (PDF) View source

Ford UK — Transit Custom brochure (ESC, Trailer Sway Control, Hill Start Assist) View source

Ford UK — Driving assistance / Pre-Collision Assist View source

Ford UK — Commercial vehicle technology page (Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection) View source

VanCompare Editorial Team

The VanCompare Editorial Team produces clear, practical guidance on UK van insurance and related topics. We work with FCA authorised insurance providers and use insurer information where relevant to explain cover in plain English and help drivers make informed decisions.

Where relevant, our content is checked against publicly available UK guidance and information from sources such as the FCA and GOV.UK to help keep it accurate and up to date.

This content is for general information only and is not financial advice.