Title: Pedestrian leg protection performance in current vehicle design in an event of vehicle-to-pedestrian accident

Authors: Yasuhiro Matsui, Shunsuke Takagi, Naruyuki Hosokawa, Hideki Yonezawa

Addresses: National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory, 7 42 27 Jindaiji-Higashi-machi, Chofu, Tokyo 182 0012, Japan. ' National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory, 7 42 27 Jindaiji-Higashi-machi, Chofu, Tokyo 182 0012, Japan. ' National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory, 7 42 27 Jindaiji-Higashi-machi, Chofu, Tokyo 182 0012, Japan. ' National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory, 7 42 27 Jindaiji-Higashi-machi, Chofu, Tokyo 182 0012, Japan

Abstract: Accident data show that leg injuries are the most common injuries in non-fatal pedestrian traffic accidents. The investigation reported in this article focuses on evaluating the pedestrian protection provided by the front bumpers of three different types of current Japanese vehicle: sedan, sport utility vehicle and K-car (engine displacement of 660 cc or less). The investigation used the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) legform impactor. The protection performance related to knee ligament injury and tibia fracture greatly depended on the vehicle|s frontal shape and the stiffness of both the bumper and the bonnet or grill of the vehicle. The study showed that for the three vehicles tested, the pedestrian leg protection performance at the bumper centre location was excellent but the performance of the bumper in front of the longitudinal members was poor.

Keywords: knee ligament injury; pedestrian leg protection; tibia fracture; Transport Research Laboratory; TRL legform impactor; vehicle design; vehicle safety; vehicle-to-pedestrian accidents; leg injuries; pedestrian traffic accidents; front bumpers; Japan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2008.025073

International Journal of Vehicle Safety, 2008 Vol.3 No.4, pp.307 - 318

Published online: 11 May 2009 *

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