Pedestrian Protection Test and Results: Utilization for Regulations in Korea

Abstract

High death rates occur due to the frequency of vehicle to pedestrian traffic accidents. Governments throughout the world are attempting to improve the safety features of the vehicle by modifying vehicle safety standards and new car safety assessment programs. This paper introduces the pedestrian protection assessment methods that have been used in the Korea New Car Assessment Program since 2007. Assessment results obtained from 54 models, tested over five years (2008 – 2012), are examined and analyzed. This research found that the pedestrian protection features of vehicles have improved gradually but are still unsatisfactory. Therefore, much improvement is needed. In the past, car manufacturers installed pedestrian protection airbags or active hood systems to enhance the pedestrian protection features. Currently, research is being carried out to develop assessment techniques of active pedestrian protection features. Meanwhile, research is being carried out to develop the Flexible Pedestrian Legform Impactor (Flex-PLI) to satisfy Phase 2 of the Global Technical Regulations (GTR).