Passive safety measures for trucks:​ effectiveness and priorities

Danner, M.; Langwieder, K.; Appel, H.; Middelhauve, V.

This paper reports on new studies oftruck accidents and a series of 15 car/truck crash tests for "front protection systems."

As part of the HUK-Verband's accident research an evaluation was made of all the truck accidents with personal injury in the Federal State of Bavaria, where data relating to the population, roads and accidents have largely the same structure as in the national statistics. This produced material covering over 2,000 truck accidents with representative characteristics; for example, one in four of the truck/car accidents with fatalities in Germany was recorded. This made it possiblet o improve the assessment of priorities for safety measures and their effects on the accident consequences.

The first results of this new accident research are presented; the significance of frontal collisions between cars and trucks —and thus the necessity of a truck protection system— was confirmed.

A new series of 15 car/truck tests was concluded on this central subject of "truck front protection systems." Experience with the testing concept and in evaluating the measuring parametersis discussed.

The positive effect of an energy-absorbing "truck front protection system" clearly emerged in the decreased intrusion risks to the car; safety advantages result for the truck as well. A comparison of the test results with real-life accidents showed that 10 to 20% of the car occupants who today are severely or fatally injured in truck collisions would have sustained lower injuries if the truck had been equipped with a front protection system.

The problems of realizing "truck front protection systems," for example, with regard to overall length and weight of the truck, are discussed. International regulations should support and as far as possible —for example, by granting a bonus for additional length— encourage the installation of truck front protection systems.

Year

Entry

1987

Cheynet JP, Beaussier P. Antilock braking equipment for heavy duty vehicles and its evolutions within european regulation. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). May 12-15, 1987; Washington, DC.755-759.

1987

Clarke RM, Leasure WA Jr. Vehicle factors in accidents involving medium and heavy trucks. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). May 12-15, 1987; Washington, DC.642-655.

1987

Horii M, Yamazaki K, Amemiya Y. Seat belt effectiveness for heavy truck occupants during a collision. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). May 12-15, 1987; Washington, DC.695-705.

1987

Fancher PS, Mathew A. Specialized procedures for preparing the accident-avoidance potential of heavy trucks. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). May 12-15, 1987; Washington, DC.746-755.

1989

Grüttert S, Middelhauve V, Appel H, Langwieder K, Danner M. Truck front-end protection systems. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). May 29–June 1, 1989; Göteborg, Sweden.173-179.