A
study designed by Jeff Crandall, the director of the Center for Applied Biomechanics,
shows improvements that can be made to cars of the future to protect pedestrians
and cyclists in accidents.
Studies by the Center reported in the May British Medical
Journal estimate pop-up hoods and external airbags could
reduce deaths of people hit by vehicles by more than 20
percent.
The study supports requirements
by the European Transport Safety Council that cars sold in Europe after 2010 protect
pedestrians in impacts of up to 40 kilometers per hour.
Currently, there
are no standards in North America for similar requirements.
