Protecting car occupants, pedestrians, and cyclists in accidents involving heavy goods vehicles by using front underrun bumpers and sideguards.

A review is given of accident situations requiring underrun bumpers and sideguards. Bumper design features discussed include height aboveground, strength, travel, and force- deflection characteristics.A programme is described for the design and development of a front underrun bumper using the plastic deformation of mild steel tubes to absorb energy, and results of car- to- truck front impact are summarised.