This paper performs further analyses of 35 mathematical simulations of car-bicycle collisions. These collisions include: (1) 33 car front collisions against the side of the bicycle; and (2) 2 car front collisions against the rear of the bicycle. The 35 simulations were conducted by the TNO Road-Vehicles Research Institute in 1987. The paper investigates particularly the relationship between the different vehicle front types and the collision severity in terms of both head velocity and head deceleration. It appears that for an adult cyclist a low vehicle front is considerably more unfavourable than a high vehicle front, particularly concerning the deceleration of the upper part of the body. The results show only a small difference between the simulations of side collisions of cars against cyclists and those of rear-end collisions. However, it is not sure in how far the simulated bicycle model used for rear-end collisions is realistic.
Abstract