Although the pedestrian is impacted twice, first by the car and then by the ground, most of the fatal injuries occur due to the interaction with the car.The vehicle bumper first contacts the lower limbs of the pedestrian, the leading edge of the hood hits the upper thigh or pelvis, and the head and upper torso are struck by the top surface of the hood and/or windshield.
Most pedestrians die due to the traumatic brain injury resulting from the hard impact of the head against the stiff hood or windshield. In addition, although usually non-fatal, injuries to the lower limb (usually to the knee joint and long bones) are the most common cause of disability due to pedestrian crashes."Pedestrian safety through vehicle design"
Very interesting, easy to understand and useful wikipedia article.
Bumpers need to deform when they hit a pedestrian’s leg. Protection is improved if the leg is impacted low down, away from the knee, and if the forces are spread over a longer length of leg.
For the leading edge of the bonnet, improvements can result from the removal of un-necessarily stiff structures.
The bonnet top area needs to be able to deflect, to protect the head. It is important that sufficient clearance is provided above the stiff structures beneath, which would stop this deflection.
www.euroncap.com
Very interesting, easy to understand and useful wikipedia article.
Bumpers need to deform when they hit a pedestrian’s leg. Protection is improved if the leg is impacted low down, away from the knee, and if the forces are spread over a longer length of leg.
For the leading edge of the bonnet, improvements can result from the removal of un-necessarily stiff structures.
The bonnet top area needs to be able to deflect, to protect the head. It is important that sufficient clearance is provided above the stiff structures beneath, which would stop this deflection.
www.euroncap.com
