This is perhaps even more alarming when you consider the mechanical failsafe mandated in Europe to prevent underruns often fails to prevent catastrophic results. Euro NCAP tested trailers with Rear Underrun Protection Systems (RUPS) built to Europe’s latest mandatory standard, UN ECE R58.03, by performing a crash test alongside a new car which had been awarded a full five-star safety rating by the organisation.
In a real-life scenario, the outcome of the 35mph impact would almost certainly have been fatal, with NCAP describing how the trailer bed “sliced directly through the passenger compartment, tearing the side out of the vehicle structure, and inflicting fatal head and neck injuries to the crash test dummy”.
The reason for this is that the rear underrun protection of the trailer does not have sufficient structural integrity to allow proper deformation of the car, allowing it to slide underneath and thus providing occupants with little to no protection.
At the same time, however, the team performed the same test but swapped the EU-spec trailer out for one configured to the US’ voluntary IIHS TOUGHGUARD standard. In this instance, thanks to the extra reinforcements this standard requires, the car was able to deform as designed, with the crash dummy remaining intact and the door still able to be opened.
With this in mind, Euro NCAP is now calling on the UK and EU to match its standards to mirror those of TOUGHGUARD. Describing the findings as “grave cause for concern”, director of strategic development, Matthew Avery, said: “The legislation behind Europe’s truck and trailer safety needs to be updated as a matter of urgency to help prevent this type of impact that can prove potentially fatal.”
Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express? We’ll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too.
Leave a comment