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New energy absorbing ‘bull bars’ anticipate future pedestrian safety laws for vehicles Old style metal bull bars will be banned by a new European law which comes into effect on 25th May, but a new generation of energy absorbing products have been shown to make vehicles safer, anticipating future pedestrian safety legislation on both Frontal Protection Systems (bull bars) and the vehicles themselves.
Tests on the new range of Endura Frontal Protection Systems (FPSs), carried out by MIRA (the independent testing body), and based on the prescribed standards of the legislation due for enforcement on 25th May have shown that unlike their metal equivalents they significantly reduce the risk of pedestrian injury - making large 4 x 4s, SUVs and LCVs up to 50 times safer.
These products anticipate the thinking behind vehicle safety legislation (that will require vehicles to be safer for pedestrians) that is not due to be put in place until 2010 - 2012 by improving the performance of vehicles in respect to a child’s head impact and adult injuries in the pelvic and abdomen area.
Endura manufacturer - Concept Mouldings (www.conceptmouldings.co.uk) have shown through years of work that the use of energy absorbing structures dramatically reduces the risk of serious injury to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, having now completed in excess of 200 simulated vehicle to pedestrian impact tests at the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA).
Testing has also shown that the risk of pedestrian head injury is dramatically reduced from greater than 98 per cent to less than 2 per cent when a large 4x4 is fitted with an Endura FPS. The risk of injury to the abdomen, upper leg and lower leg is also reduced with a substantial 79 per cent improvement to the pelvis and abdominal area. For test results video footage and more information please see, www.frontalprotectionsystems.eu.
Like the soon to be illegal ‘bull bar’, Endura also offers similar protection to the fronts of vehicles, reducing vehicle damage when involved in collisions.
The diagram below illustrates the types of injuries typically incurred by pedestrians as an overall percentage.
Crandall, JR, Bhalla, K, and Madeley, NJ (11th May 2002). "Designing road vehicles for pedestrian protection". British Medical Journal.
As you can see, 99 percent of all serious and fatal injuries are caused from injury to the head and abdomen (including pelvis) regions. The Endura range of products have been specifically manufactured and focused upon these regions to ensure maximum protection for the vulnerable road user.
Statistics produced by the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (Report FIF.20030937 Inc Jacobs et al. 2004) reveal why the new EC legislation and the Endura FPS can make a major breakthrough in pedestrian safety. More than 900 UK and 12,000 European pedestrians and cyclists are killed every year and more than 9,000 and 290,000 respectively are seriously injured.
The widespread use of Endura Frontal Protection Systems would contribute to saving countless lives and reduce the number of serious injuries across Europe.
The diagram below graphically illustrates the difference in performance between the Endura FPS system and the bull bars which are banned under the May 25th legislation.
From 25th May 2007, immediate action from the UK Government to enforce compliance will have an immediate effect on road safety for pedestrians and cyclists, saving countless lives and reducing huge costs on UK roads.
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