COMMERCIAL vehicle manufacturers are to face league tables comparing the effectiveness of security equipment on their vehicles in the near future. The fleet and insurance industries are both preparing for a concerted attack on van-makers for failing to fit adequate security systems to protect their vehicles and their contents.

In a bid to extend the progress made in passenger car security to the commercial vehicle sector, insurance industry research centre Thatcham will be inspecting every new light commercial model as it is produced and making their own assessment of security levels. Of the 412,000 vehicles stolen last year, 47,000 (11%) were lcvs at a cost to the insurance industry of £70 million a year.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association is also preparing to come down hard on lcv manufacturers after deploring the lack of progress made in the security field in recent years at this year's annual Security Awards (Fleet News, February 2). BVRLA president Freddie Aldous said: 'We will shortly be announcing details of two new awards for commercial vehicle security. The awards ceremony will take place early next year, but if we are not happy with security standards, no commercial vehicle awards will be made and we will publicly explain the reason why.'