A practical approach to the protection of motor vehicles by the absorption of impact energy.

Serious considerations to any device which reduces the initial severity of the impact between a vehicle and an obstruction, at either slow or fast speeds, must be given. This will have a dual effect by reducing material damage and lessening or preventing injury to the people involved. Any system which uses the bumpers to absorb part of the impact energy, offers a valuable route towards the reduction in the costs of accidents. Mathematics which can help energy absorbing bumper design is discussed.