For a few years now, they have been part of the trailers and of the trucks that we see on our roads. The side and rear bars that they display are not an aesthetic option, but a safety element. barras underride They are a simple and at the same time very effective form of protection.
Also known as bars side protectionthese devices have become a standard to prevent risks in side collisions between heavy vehicles and smaller vehicles. In Europe, and therefore in Spain, the regulations require manufacturers and transporters to equip their vehicles with this security measures specific.
Why are these protection bars crucial?
The protection bars play an essential role in the road safety. They prevent a small vehicle from passing under the truck in the event of a side impact, thus significantly reducing serious or fatal injuries.
Although heavy trucks are less likely to be involved in road accidents, they are less compatible with other road users due to their enormous mass and the typical open construction of the sides and front of their load area or trailer. In the event of a collision, the consequences can be very serious for unprotected road users and occupants of passenger cars.
One of the typical accidents is the rear impact of a passenger car against a semi-trailer at an average speed of the commercial vehicle and the passenger car of 80 km/h and 125 km/h, respectively; this equates to a relative impact speed of the passenger car of 45 km/h, they recall from Dekra.
The presence of those underride bars allows dissipate kinetic energy of the car by offering, according to the current standard, sufficient resistance to the rear impact of a medium-sized passenger car at a minimum differential speed of 56 km/h.
The deformation of the front side members and the activation of the restraint systems to protect the occupants in the event of an impact help to reduce the consequences of the impact. They are also a Effective protection against slipping under the trailer in the event of an impact, both passenger cars and light trucks weighing up to 3.5 tonnes.
Crash bars alone help mitigate the consequences of a crash, but they are not enough. Current regulations also require that the Car design takes these bars into account with a view to the protection of tourist passengers.
Furthermore, these bars, especially on the sides, must also provide effective protection to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists by preventing them from passing under the trailer or truck in the event of an accident.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
