New
energy absorbing Frontal Protection Systems
(FPS) for SUVs and vans will save lives
and reduce injuries
New energy absorbing plastic fronts
for SUVs and vans will save lives and
reduce serious injuries to vulnerable
road users according to Concept Mouldings,
a leading, UK based automotive parts
supplier.
More than 900 UK and 12,000 European
pedestrians and cyclists are killed
every year and more than 9,000 and
290,000 respectively are seriously
injured according to latest statistics
produced by the UK’s Transport
Research Laboratory (TRL).
Testing of Concept’s revolutionary
new plastic frontal protection system
has been carried out at MIRA, one of
Europe’s leading vehicle design,
development and certification centres.
The tests showed the frontal protection
system reduced the risk of head injuries
from over 99 per cent in the worst
case down to less than 2 per cent and
also substantially reduced the potential
for injuries to the upper leg, abdomen
and pelvis. Head injuries from the
fronts of vehicles are typically incurred
by children and these often prove to
be fatal. Details of the results and
information on this development in
pedestrian safety are available on
www.frontalprotectionsystems.eu .
The testing was based on typical large
4 x 4 vehicles and vans which are currently
available in the UK and the rest of
Europe. The new frontal protection
system works by absorbing energy and
protecting pedestrians from hard parts
at the front of vehicles such as the
bonnet leading edge, radiator and engine.
Details of this new generation of
products will also be available on
the Concept Mouldings exhibition stand
at the British International Motor
Show between the 20th and 30th of July
2006, with special press and trade
presentations available on the 18th
and 19th of July respectively.
The makers of large 4 x 4s are already
working hard to improve the safety
of their vehicles with the likelihood
of new EU legislation which demands
safer vehicle fronts being phased in
after 2012. The testing carried out
at MIRA was based on EU requirements
for frontal protection systems.
"One of the most exciting aspects
of our results is that because our
products can be fitted as an aftermarket
product by owners of vehicles we can
start saving lives and serious injuries
now rather than waiting for a long
term legislative process", said
Ian Finney, Managing Director of Concept
Mouldings.
"The benefits are also likely
to continue as vehicle design improves.
For example, the results of testing
our product on current vehicles are
even better than on vehicles produced
10 years ago."
For more information contact Selwyn
Rowley at LMMC on 01926 611700 or email
selwyn @lmmc.co.uk
Notes for editors
Limited numbers of invitations to
press or trade preview events at the
British International Motor Show are
available on request to paul@lmmc.co.uk
- A recent report from the
Commission for Global Road Safety highlighted
that road traffic deaths represent
a global public health crisis and one
of the recommended measures was to
manufacture safer vehicle fronts, so
as to reduce injury to vulnerable road
users.
- The UK government is putting
an extra £15 million into encouraging
more cycling over the next three
years but safety concerns remain
for this vulnerable group of road
users.
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