In Great Britain in 1988 over 1750 pedestrians were killed and 16000 seriously injured in Road Traffic Accidents. Statistics show that cars are most frequently involved in these accidents, particularly the front of the vehicle. This paper summarises research aimed at developing car fronts which are more 'pedestrian friendly' and discusses current proposals by a European Experimental Vehicles Committee - Working Group for Sub-systems Tests to evaluate the protection afforded to pedestrians by cars. The research showed that the bodyregions of a pedestrian most frequently injured were the legs, pelvis and head, with the head followed by the abdomen and chest as the regions most likely to suffer life threatening injuries. The areas of a car that frequently caused these injuries and where practical improvements will give the greatest benefits are the bumper, the bonnet leading edge, the bonnet top, scuttle and lower edge of the windscreen frame. At all of these areas, independent sub-systems tests will give a satisfactory assessment of the protection afforded to pedestrians. Practical limitations in the improvements that can be built into these areas will probably restrict the speed at which protection can be made effective to 40 km/h. Incorporating pedestrian protection features that are effective at speeds of up to 40 km/h is estimated to give an annual reduction in casualties of about 6-10 per cent of the 1205 killed by cars and up to 30 per cent of the 13000 seriously injured.
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