Performance of Bull Bars in Pedestrian Impact Tests
Thirteen bull bars and the five models of vehicle were tested to measure their performance in pedestrian impact tests. Three tests were used in the assessment: two tests using an impactor representing the upper leg of an adult pedestrian, and a test with an impactor representing the head of a child. The headform impact and one of the upper legform impacts were with the top rail of the bull bar, and the second upper legform impact was with the bumper section of the bull bar. Equivalent locations on the vehicle that the bull bars were attached to were also tested. The tests were conducted at 30 km/h. Two rating systems were developed to summarize the results. The first rates the performance of the bull bars and the fronts of the vehicles according to the New Car Assessment Program consumer rating system used in Europe and Australia. The second system rates the performance of the bull bars relative to the front of the vehicle to which they are attached. Overall, steel bull bars are significantly more hazardous for a pedestrian in the event of a collision than the front of the vehicle, as are the aluminium/alloy bull bars, but to a lesser extent than the steel bull bars. Overall, the polymer bull bars slightly improve the safety of the front of the vehicle.. This study demonstrates the practicability of reporting the performance of bull bars in pedestrian impact tests. The system developed herein could form the basis of a consumer-oriented bull bar testing program.
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Availability:
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Corporate Authors:
University of Adelaide
Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR)
Adelaide, South Australia Australia 5005Motor Accident Commission, South Australia
GPO Box 1045
Adelaide, South Australia Australia 5001 -
Authors:
- Anderson, R W G
- van den Berg, A L
- Ponte, G
- Streeter, L D
- Publication Date: 2006-7
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 43p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bumpers; Crash tests; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrian vehicle crashes; Ratings
- Identifier Terms: New Car Assessment Program (Ncap)
- Uncontrolled Terms: Bullbars
- Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; I84: Personal Injuries;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01153516
- Record Type: Publication
- ISBN: 19020947221
- Report/Paper Numbers: CASR020
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Mar 31 2010 7:45AM