Injury risk of vulnerable road users in case of accidents with crash bar equipped off-road vehicles

Zellmer, H.; Otte, D.

Affiliations

¹Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt)

Abstract

Off-road vehicles with and without crash bars were tested with the EEVC-10 proposed sub-systems test procedure for pedestrian protection in order to get a better understanding of the potential harm crash bars present to vulnerable road users. The tests with the child headform impactor revealed that HIC values in excess of 1000 (which is the proposed limit at 40 km/h) can already be attained at impact velocities as low as 20 km/h. With the upper legform impactor, the test requirements were not satisfied, the crash bars falling short by a factor 2 to 3. These results are compared with test on normal passenger cars. Findings from real accidents involving off-road vehicles with and without crash bars and vulnerable road users which had been obtained by the Accident Research Unit of Hanover Medical University are presented and discussed with respect to the results of the sub systems tests.

Cited Works (3)

Year	Entry
1994	Otte D. The Accident Research Unit Hannover as example for importance and benefit of existing in depth investigations. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. February 28–March 3, 1994; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 940712.
1994	Zellmer H, Glaeser K-P. The EEVC-WG 10 head impact test procedure in practical use. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 23-26, 1994; Munich, Germany.1139-1146.
1994	Zellmer H, Friedel B. Potential risk for vulnerable road users from crash bar equipped off-road vehicles. In: Proceedings of the 38th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 31–November 2, 1994; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:403-416. SAE 942233.