Pedestrian accidents are a serious problem in many countries,
and some form of vehicle design recommendations to improve
pedestrian protection are urgently required.
Research has shown that in an accident the severity of injury is
influenced mainly by impact speed, shape of the car, stiffness of
the car components struck by the pedestrian, and the stature and
strength of the pedestrian (young or old, frail or strong). A
measure of the importance of these variables has now been
demonstrated, but limitations, in the performance of dummies and
gaps in existing knowledge, particularly a human tolerance, have
also been identified. These limitations reduce the precision with
which car design requirements for pedestrian safety may be
specified. Obtaining further information and proving a test dummy
to overcome these limitations may be a lengthy process.
Sufficient information is available to allow generalised
recommendations to be compiled that could be used as guidelines
until more precise requirements may be determined.
This paper proposes a set of simple guidelines for the depth and
stiffness of protection to be built into the various components of
the car front, which are determined by the shape chosen for the
front profile. Meeting these guidelines should insure a good level
of protection but, although necessary, they may not be entirely
sufficient, and further experience may eventually suggest some fine
tuning of the proposals.
This paper shows that for the areas of a car that are important
for pedestrian safety (bumper, bonnet leading edge, and bonnet
top), the protection requirements may vary considerably according
to the overall shape of the front of the car.
It can be shown that the major safe characteristics of these
areas may be isolated and examined (with due regard to the overall
shape of the car) to assess their potential for causing injury.