Right, here we go! I would love to say that I did a lot of research on the issue, but that would be a lie as EVO has done a lot of work for me! However I have added some of my own opinions, and also some links to relevant sites! So this is a summary of what their (quite long) article says (I make no apologies for the length, as this is an important issue):
Firstly to clear up my own question of, ‘Is it even Law yet?’ The answer is currently no, however the new safety rules are hitting us in the form of a regulation. This without out going into the complexities of EU Law means that there will be an outline of the criteria for the new tests. Then each member state will have to implement these tests before a deadline which will be in the directive. Anyway, enough of that, back to what really matters!
Firstly, the new tests will not completely change the way cars look. So you can all breath a sigh of relief! The first stage of the regulations is due to come into force by 2005. The finer details are still to be completed. Such as whether there will be any exemption for small volume makers, which would save the skin of TVR, Morgan and such like. As it stands though, they still have to comply.
The key words in the directive are: Cars must have frontal structures that ‘mitigate (lessen) the severity of injuries to pedestrians…….’ This is the general concept, and will be introduced in two stages, the first we will see in 2005, but in 2010 much stricter tests will come into force.
The problems that designers are facing revolve around the engine and associated organs such as intercoolers! 80% of all fatal car accidents are cased by head injuries (HI). In order to reduce this, the 2005+ test will require roughly 60-70mm of clearance between the highest ‘hard point’ or the engine and the bonnet. While in 2010+ this distance will increase to around 100mm!
So what have the clever designers come up with to counter-act this problem? Well, quite a lot actually! Swedish specialists ‘Autoliv’ have come up with the “active bonnet” which put simply, is a bonnet based on the same principle as an airbag. At the point of impact the bonnet raises to the stipulated 100mm in under 70 milliseconds. To find out more, go here:
http://www.autoliv.com/ (then goto: Research and Dev/ Some projects/ Pedestrian Protection)
The designers have taken this issue of safety and run with it, coming up with some of their own ideas. Such as lowering the bonnet latch to remove it from the path of a victims knee. Removing all the electronics associated with Xenon lights, and move them to the rear of the engine bay, leaving only the glass at the front. There is also talk of mounting the cooling fans and radiators at an angle so they don’t just act as an obstacle. Some designers are even questioning the need for conventional bonnets! I would be very interested to see what they have in mind! (These ideas are from Arup, Advanced Technology Grp)
So what will be seriously affected? Answer the SUV (oh what a shame!) Russell Carr has assured us that the next Lotus Elise will not change too much.
However this is just the start! ‘Urban Safety’ is a hot topic for the EU. They (ETSC) want to reduce pedestrian deaths by 50% in 2010! To do this some drastic changes are needed! The physical restriction of a cars speed in an urban environment is a very real possibility!
I hope this clears up some issues! In short, trust the designers, they are a clever bunch and will work around any new regulations!
I think that will do for now lol
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