Pedestrian Protection Challenges for SUVs in India

Trucks and SUVs are designed with off-road characteristics or other special vehicle features which define the fundamental vehicle architecture. Features such as high running clearances, large approach angles, skid plates, tow/recovery hooks and steel/chrome bumpers may present challenges for meeting pedestrian lower leg performance for GTR9 (Global Technical Regulation) which also forms the basis for Indian pedestrian protection regulations in near future.

The GTR9 scope applies to vehicles up to 4500kg which includes most of the Indian full size trucks and SUVs [1]. A study of a sample of SUVs being sold in the Indian market was done to understand the typical dimensions of the front end of the vehicle. One of the sampler SUVs was studied in detail to understand the potential challenges posed to meet the pedestrian protection requirements.