New hood safety requirements?

[cscmc1]

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but...

I was just flipping through a Car & Driver (or Road & Track or some similar mag) and caught a brief blurb on a new safety requirement proposed in Europe. Apparently they're looking to mandate a 4" clearance between the hood and any components underneath (read: intake, air filter housing, battery, etc...) so as to lessen the harshness in a collision with a pedestrian. A 4" "crumple zone," in effect.

I'd imagine that, in enacted, this would drastically alter the design of new cars in Europe and, consequently, the US, as so many designs here are influenced (out of fashion or necessity) by cars from across the pond.

Of course, there's always the retrofit 4" cowl hood like so many of my 5.0 Mustang brethren sport... but I somehow doubt it would really "fit" in a Benz!

Thoughts?

Chris

[Pete Geither]

Read about this a year or two ago and the look of the Chrysler 300 is what you are going to see more frequently. Don't know what they will do with the sport types though. I try not to walk in front of moving cars, no matter what they look like.

[mikemover]

Absolutely ridiculous. Sounds like more Ralph Nader-inspired quackery.

If you are a pedestrian and are struck by a car, the distance between the hood and what's under the hood is the LEAST of your problems!

mike

[rickg]

Actually, I seem to remember that had something to do with the demise of "spinner" style hubcaps back in the late 60's or early 70's. Somebody claimed it did more damage to pedestrians.
Like MM said, there are bigger concerns.

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by cscmc1

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but...

I was just flipping through a Car & Driver (or Road & Track or some similar mag) and caught a brief blurb on a new safety requirement proposed in Europe. Apparently they're looking to mandate a 4" clearance between the hood and any components underneath (read: intake, air filter housing, battery, etc...) so as to lessen the harshness in a collision with a pedestrian. A 4" "crumple zone," in effect.

I'd imagine that, in enacted, this would drastically alter the design of new cars in Europe and, consequently, the US, as so many designs here are influenced (out of fashion or necessity) by cars from across the pond.

Of course, there's always the retrofit 4" cowl hood like so many of my 5.0 Mustang brethren sport... but I somehow doubt it would really "fit" in a Benz!

Thoughts?

Chris

I would think a program teaching Pedestrians that Jaywalking is unsafe and a bad idea for numerous reasons would be far more productive and cost effective.

[cscmc1]

I can't imagine that the stylistically-motivated Europeans at Audi, Mercedes, BMW, or even VW (not to mention the supercar manufacturers) would let this become law w/o a fight. Can you imagine adding 4" to the lines of a BMW Z3? Yuck! Hopefully it was just some crackpot idea a do-gooder in Europe had some time ago that is still making the rounds in the automotive enthusiasts' circles.

[stayalert]

I want a giant nerf car

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by cscmc1

I can't imagine that the stylistically-motivated Europeans at Audi, Mercedes, BMW, or even VW (not to mention the supercar manufacturers) would let this become law w/o a fight. Can you imagine adding 4" to the lines of a BMW Z3? Yuck! Hopefully it was just some crackpot idea a do-gooder in Europe had some time ago that is still making the rounds in the automotive enthusiasts' circles.

How much do you wanna bet that hair brained idea originated in France....

[bobbyv]

I've also read about some manufacturer's research into pedestrian airbags which pop out of the front/hood to protect the pedestrian from severe harm. Supposedly, this would be triggered by some smart proximity and crash detection devices.

[Lebenz]

Just for the sake of the conversation, if there was a large airbag that deployed across the front of the vehicle wouldn’t it just bounce the person off and slam them into the pavement behind them, to then be run over by the airbag blinded driver? Would this change the liability? If this happened, would the pedestrian be charged with hit and run?*













*I couldn’t help myself, it’s all Paul’s fault

[Kuan]

What? And outlaw THIS?

[yal]

Aparently it has something to do with the head hitting the hood after the torso is struck. Some nut found out, in short, that statistically shorter people that were hit head-on with cars tended to survive more than taller people because their heads did not slam down on the hood, or something to that effect. I saw a show in england demonstrating this with dummies. So the dummies figure make softer hoods. Bizzare.

[boneheaddoctor]

If pedestrians stopped wandering out in traffic oblivious to the world with their cell phone in one ear sucking on a Starbucks coffee with the other adn actually crossed in crosswalks and only on walk signals the pedestian injuries would decrease dramaticly.....here in DC anyway.....

[mikemover]

Originally Posted by PaulC

Bah. If you're dumb enough to walk out in front of a moving car, you deserve what you get. What next, a pillow and blankie dispenser mounted in the grille? Bring back 1958 American styling and restore the sporting element to pedestrian goring.

Hahaha! Excellent idea!

Actually, I'm surprised that they haven't made HOOD ORNAMENTS illegal yet! Mark my words, that day is coming.....Some dumba$$, meddling bureaucrat will think of it sooner or later....Then there will be no more hood stars on new MBs.... No more chrome cats on new Jags....

Mike

[mikemover]

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

If pedestrians stopped wandering out in traffic oblivious to the world with their cell phone in one ear sucking on a Starbucks coffee with the other adn actually crossed in crosswalks and only on walk signals the pedestian injuries would decrease dramaticly.....here in DC anyway.....

Yep. Happens around here all the time.

I have people walk in front of my car at least once a week....without even LOOKING! I even had a guy do it once while pushing a baby stroller! He never even looked in my direction! What if I was some moron that wasn't paying attention? His dumb a$$ would have deserved it, of course....because he didn't look where he was going....but what about his baby? Completely irresponsible.

I mean, come on! When I'm walking, even if I'm at an intersection, in a crosswalk, and I completely have the right of way, I STILL look at the oncoming traffic to make sure they are going to stop. I just don't trust people enough to step into the street without looking. Some people are just oblivious. They think the whole damned world is going to stop, just because they stepped into the street, and I have a hard time feeling sorry for them when they get hit.

Mike