"Safety isn't optional these days. All Transit buyers, quite rightly, take it as a given. With the high mileage covered by many drivers and the fact that increasing numbers of Transits now have dual business and family usage, we have endeavoured to build on the reputation established by the outgoing model and make the new Transit even safer for our customers."
Phil Collareno, Commercial Vehicle Director – Product Development

The new Transit features a wide range of advanced electronic safety systems. These include an Antilock Brake System, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Brake Traction Control, Electronic Stability Programme and Roll Over Mitigation, and are fitted to the new Transit either as standard or optional equipment.

'Primary' safety is the term now used to describe the vehicle dynamics and electronic chassis controls. A vehicle that responds well to driver inputs – steering, braking, and accelerating – will be safer than one that doesn't. Add to that the gallery of electronic aids Ford has included in its latest Transit and the result is a vehicle that is intrinsically safe.

Unfortunately, accidents may still happen and if they do, the driver and other vehicle occupants need to be protected and shielded from any untoward impact by the vehicle's secondary safety systems.

Protecting the occupants is a main function of the vehicle's structure and whilst the outgoing Transit was considered very safe, the development team took the opportunity to build on that reputation and further enhance the Transit's safety systems.

Particular attention has been paid to re-engineering the front structure. Using the very latest Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) capabilities, the Transit team has redesigned the front and side rails to collapse more progressively under impact. For lower severity impacts, this also reduces the area at the front that is likely to be damaged.

In these lower speed impacts, an added bonus in the majority of cases is that the engine and transmission no longer need to be removed to effect repairs, reducing maintenance time and cost.

The driver and occupants also benefit from this redesign and a stronger cross-vehicle structure under the instrument panel helps to minimise intrusion into the cabin. As part of this programme the drivers seat has a stronger mounting pedestal.

A driver's airbag is now fitted as standard on all derivatives while the optional passenger's airbag – at 120 litres – is double the size of the previous models and large enough to protect two front seat passengers. Seat-mounted side, head and thorax airbags are available as an option for the first time on Transit. When leather trim is specified the side airbags come as standard.

Transit's 'command bridge' driving position is also a confidence booster for many drivers.

ISOFIX child seat attachments are fitted on both the centre and offside position of all second row vehicle seats.

Seat belts are fitted to all seating positions with the upper mounting point raised, increasing the adjustable range from 52mm to 100mm.

SECURITY

"Security is one of the biggest concerns to those who operate these vehicles, not just theft of property and goods from the vehicle, but also theft of the vehicle itself. We've listened very hard over the years to what our customers want and we've tried to deliver that and more when it comes to security systems for the new Transit."
Barry Gale, Chief Engineer Commercial Vehicles

The latest Ford Transit is launched with a full suite of security measures, designed and engineered to frustrate and deter would-be thieves, and by doing so improve insurance ratings for owners. The new Transit is available with two levels of alarm:

• The basic alarm monitors the perimeter of the vehicle with traditional switches and sounds an internal horn. The system is set by the standard remote locking key

• A second, high-level alarm certified to Thatcham Category 1 can also be specified. This features scanning of the cabin interior and a battery backup if the thief tries to disable the vehicle power supply. There is also glass break sensing for the rear windows in Tourneo bus versions, Kombis and Kombi vans

Additionally, new Transit comes with:

Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS)

Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) is standard on the new Transit and each vehicle has its own unique coded chip in the key fob and cannot be started without the chip in close proximity to the steering column lock. Even if the steering column lock is broken and the vehicle is 'hot-wired' it will not start if the inductive loops in the steering column and key fob are not communicating.
The steering column also has a slip torque lock which shears if the steering wheel is forced, leaving it to spin uselessly.

Waterproof Rechargeable Key

In another first for the sector, the new Transit debuts a waterproof key that automatically recharges each time it is put into the ignition lock. This feature is particularly important to those operators working in wet environments or for delivery drivers who might be in and out of the cab 50 or more times a day. The third button on the key can be used for remotely operating features such as lighting on chassis cabs.

Hood Lock

To prevent tampering with the engine and control systems, access to the engine bay can only be gained using the ignition key operated bonnet lock. The lock is situated behind the radiator grille.

Cable-free doors

All the locks are self-contained within the doors and are free of cables, so drilling the door out won't aid the thief. Key barrels in the passenger, side load and rear doors are all deleted when central locking is specified.

Configurable locking

Because the Transit's central locking system is electronically operated, Ford's security experts have devised multiple locking strategies, including the industry's first configurable locking and unlocking security system.

Owners and operators can choose from a menu of options that allows them to choose which doors unlock, and in which order, when selected buttons on the key are pressed. The number of options remains confidential for customer security.

Dealers will have the ability to reset the remote central locking system, but not to change the vehicle from one locking configuration to another or upgrade vehicles not originally ordered with this feature.

Locking strategy

In addition to the configurable locking strategy, Transit operators can select from manual, mechanical locking or electronically-operated central locking which offer as standard:

• Power Door Dead Locks: When locked it is impossible to open the doors using the internal door release, preventing a thief from smashing a window to lean in and open the door. This is standard across the range except for the M2-class vehicle (passenger vehicle with more than nine seats, but a Gross Vehicle Mass of under 5000kg) bus which comes only with power door locks

• Two Stage Unlocking: Depending on body style, locking is configured to open one or more doors on the first button press and the remaining doors on the second. For instance, it would be possible to lock the cargo area and leave the cabin unlocked or the opposite

• Auto Relocking: If – after 45 seconds following a signal to unlock the door – the door has not been opened, it will automatically relock. This guards against accidentally activating the key fob and leaving an unattended vehicle

• Audible Mis-Lock Feedback: The horn sounds automatically if a door is left ajar when the vehicle is locked or a lock is prevented from fully engaging

Above and beyond the standard locking features are a number of options that can be specified:

• Additional remote key fob: Two remote key fobs allow more than one user control of the locking/unlocking and alarm features. This is not available with chassis cabs

• Auto locking on drive away: All doors automatically lock once the vehicle speed exceeds 8km/h (5mph). The doors remain locked even if the vehicle slows or stops, although the driver or passenger locks can be released using the interior door handle

• Slam Locking: This feature is particularly useful for delivery drivers as it allows the cargo doors to lock immediately when the door is slammed closed, assuming the vehicle has been locked using the key fob. As it does not require the use of a key, the operator can use any part of his/her body to close the door. This is a stand-alone option to ensure that customers ordering it fully understand this feature and have a need for it as the vehicle will be fully locked – even with the ignition key in place – if the door has been slammed shut

'Follow you home' lights

'Follow you home' head and sidelights remain on for 45 seconds from the time the doors are secured. This is a first for the Transit, and a notable safety and convenience feature usually found on much more expensive vehicles.

Hazard Flashers

What happens when a delivery driver parks on the kerb? They usually activate the hazard warning lights. This normally also signals that the central locking has been activated, meaning the driver does not know if the vehicle is locked or not. Not so for the driver of a new Transit. He/she stops, puts on the hazard flashers and then remotely locks the vehicle at which point the indicators freeze for 2.8 seconds, indicating that the vehicle is locked.

Bulkhead

All vans come with a metal bulkhead as standard, preventing access to the load area from the cabin.

VIN Identification

A number of electronic components have the Vehicle Identification Number securely embedded within them. This acts as a deterrent to vehicle and component thieves and helps reduce insurance ratings.

Tamper proof Odometer

To prevent 'clocking,' the odometer distance recordings are stored in more than one electronic module. If any of these modules need replacing during the life of the vehicle the distance recordings are automatically cascaded to the new module, making it impossible to 'clock' the vehicle without replacing costly and complex electronic componentry.
Furthermore, each time the ignition key is inserted the PATS system checks round all the sub systems to ensure they are all present and all the modules are 'related'.