As part of the HUK-Verband's accident research an evaluation was made of all the truck accidents with personal injury in the Federal State of Bavaria, where data relating to the population, roads and accidents have largely the same structure as in the national statistics. This produced material covering over 2,000 truck accidents with representive characteristics. This made it possible to improve the assessment of priorities for safety measures and their effects on the accident conseqences. The first results of this new accident research are presented in this paper, and the significance of frontal collisions between cars and trucks - and thus the necessity of a truck protection systems - was confirmed. A new series of 15 car/truck tests was concluded on this central subject of "truck front protection system". Experience with the testing concept and in evaluating the measuring parameters is discussed. The positive effect of an energy-absorbing "truck front protection system" clearly emerged in the decreased intrusion risks to the car; safety advantages result for the truck as well. A comparision of test results with real-life accidents showed that 10 to 20% of the car occupants who today are severely or fatally injuried in truck collisions would have sustained lower injuries if the truck had been equipped with a front protection system. The problems of realizing "truck front protection systems", for example, with regard to overall length and weight of the truck , are discussed. International regulations should support and as far as possible - for example, by granting a bonus for additional length - encourage the installation of truck front protection systems. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference, see IRRD 837684.
Abstract