Already available on passenger cars including the Mondeo, the Pre-Collision Assist technology uses radar and camera systems to locate people in the road – and even those on the pavement who could stray into the vehicle’s path.

The technology is now available for Transit and Transit Custom vans with the new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBlue diesel engine, marking the first time that the technology has been made available for commercial vehicles of this size.

In a series of warnings, the driver will first receive an audible alarm and visual alert in the instrument cluster of an imminent collision. If the driver fails to respond, the system then shortens the time required to apply the brakes by reducing the gap between brake pads and discs. If there is still no response from the driver, the brakes are applied automatically and the vehicle speed is reduced.

“It only takes a split second for a delivery driver to check an address – but that can be just the moment when an unwary pedestrian steps into the street,” said Gregor Allexi, active safety engineer, Ford of Europe. “In cases like this, Pedestrian Detection technology can help to avoid an accident, or reduce its severity.”