Comparative
tests herald breakthrough for pedestrian safety
Testing recently carried out by MIRA, one of the UK’s
leading testing facilities, has proved that the latest
development of frontal protection system can make many
4 x 4 vehicles safer in the unfortunate event of front
end collisions with pedestrians and cyclists.
The test has now enabled Concept Mouldings to confirm
its prediction in Plastics and Rubber Weekly (26th
January 1996) that the styled frontal protection system
has an important role to play in the evolution of European
pedestrian protection directives. Importantly it will
assist the OEM vehicle manufacturers in their quest
to make vehicles safer in the unfortunate event of
collisions with pedestrians and other vulnerable road
users. The tests which were based on the European Directive
2005/66/EC relating to the use of frontal protection
systems on motor vehicles were originally designed
to control the use of bull bars.
Ironically, this new product which to all intents
and purposes looks like a bull bar but is made of a
composite of energy absorbing polyurethane was shown
to make existing vehicles far safer. If fitted to all
current large 4 x 4 vehicles, calculations based on
these tests show that this new product would save lives
and a considerable number of serious pedestrian injuries
throughout Europe and beyond.
If it is made widely available this product could dramatically
accelerate the pace of the adoption of the EC pedestrian
safety measures that currently have a very slow programme
of implementation. The evolution of the base vehicle,
coupled with this FPS product would assist most large
4 x 4s to comply earlier than the scheduled introduction
date for new vehicles in 2012, which means that non compliant
vehicles will be around in Europe for another 16 to 22
years within the second-hand user parc.
The inescapable conclusion of the MIRA testing is
that this pioneering new product developed by UK engineering
company Concept Mouldings has the potential to make
a major contribution to road safety in Europe by bringing
forward the aims of the existing legislation. Potentially
this product could help the safety of existing 4 x
4 vehicles and make a major contribution as an integral
feature of future vehicle design.
For further information on Frontal Protection
Systems go to:
http://www.frontalprotectionsystems.eu |
