Pedestrian protection

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When pedestrian protection it comes to injuries to pedestrians in a collision with a car to avoid making changes based on this or decrease in severity. Corresponding tests are part of the Euro NCAP crash test, but have so far only played a clearly subordinate role for manufacturers compared to the safety of the occupants.

The legs and head of the pedestrian are particularly at risk in a vehicle collision. Studies also show correlations between pedestrian size, vehicle type, speed and the injury pattern .

statistics

According to CARE - the European Community database on road traffic accidents - pedestrian accidents are the second most common (20 percent) cause of death in European road traffic. Pedestrian accidents are more than a third of all fatal accidents in urban areas. In 2005, 3700 pedestrians died in road traffic accidents in the EU14 (excluding Germany). Between 1996 and 2005, fatal pedestrian accidents in the EU14 fell by 37 percent. The improvement in pedestrian protection is essentially due to the constant tightening of legislation and the increased requirements of consumer ratings such as EuroNCAP.

activities

As a concrete measure to protect pedestrians, so-called cow catchers , which can seriously injure children in the head, were banned from new car registrations in 2006 .

Active pedestrian protection is understood to mean measures to avoid accidents or reduce speed in the event of collisions. Passive pedestrian protection refers to measures on the vehicle with the aim of reducing the consequences of an accident (severity of injury). Integral pedestrian protection means the interaction between active and passive.

A more flexible vehicle front, which absorbs the energy of the impact ( crumple zone ) and a lower cross member, which initiates the rotation of the pedestrian at an early stage, help on the vehicle in order to minimize knee injuries . In addition, the bonnet can be deformed either through passive measures (lowering of the engine block, deformable connections to the fenders, hinges) or active solutions (raising the bonnet or triggering a window airbag after a pedestrian impact is detected by a sensor).

The Accident Research of the Insurers (UDV) has developed a procedure with which both passive (e.g. opening hood, disc airbag) and active (automatic emergency brake) safety systems for pedestrian protection can be rated on a uniform scale.

There are various vehicles that represent a further development in pedestrian protection. This includes the Citroën C6 , in which the hood is raised 6.5 cm in the event of a collision in order to create a crumple zone above the engine block. Daimler has also introduced this in the E-Class W212 as well as other models, including a. the C-Class Coupe. Not only is an active bonnet used, but also spoiler lips on the front bumpers such as recessed windshield wipers and flush door handles.

The Volvo V40 is the first vehicle ever to be equipped with a pedestrian airbag, which in the event of a collision unfolds over the lower third of the windshield and A-pillar in a flash. At the same time, the bonnet is raised automatically to significantly reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ Volvo V40-With airbag for pedestrians against Audis A3. Focus-Online, February 28, 2012, accessed August 1, 2012 .