THE European Commission has announced plans for a raft of new safety measures vehicle manufacturers must include in vans, including fitting ABS brakes as standard.

They are included in a proposal for a directive that the EC has adopted which outlines measures aimed at improving road safety.

Most of the measures concern utility vehicles, including vans, and devices set to become obligatory include ABS brakes, new and more effective rear mirrors and side protection devices.

The Member of the Commission responsible for enterprise policy, Erkki Liikanen, said: 'Not only will the new mandatory provisions increase the safety of utility vehicles, but some of them will greatly reduce the risks to cyclists and pedestrians.'

The new law will also mean that vans have to be more visible at night. Other safety measures that must be fitted to vans from 2006 will include improved indicators and edge protection intended to prevent cyclists or pedestrians being dragged under the vehicle.

Details come soon after four motoring organisations in Germany announced they were joining forces to offer the country's van drivers training in a bid to reduce the number of accidents on the road.

As revealed in Fleet News Europe last week, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), German Automobile Club (ADAC), the Association of Motor Vehicle Importers (VDIK), German Road Safety Council (DVR), have launched a programme aimed at promoting driver safety.