Under-ride Protectors for Commercial Vehicles

摘要

In 1978 there were 63 fatal and 129 serious injury accidents involving rear end impacts between passenger cars and commercial vehicles. It is highly likely that at least 10 per cent of these accidents suffered increased severity due to the cars under-riding the lead vehicle with consequent intrusion into the passenger compartment. Some form of under-ride protector could reduce the severity of this type of accident and this report examines the physical requirements for such a device based on the characteristics of the passenger car population of South Africa. The dimensions of a suitable protector are recommended but it is apparent that improving the conspicuity of the rear ends of trucks could be a more effective measure by reducing the number of such accidents in the first place.