Automotive Safety: American vs. European Standards

Introduction

Automotive safety standardization is a critical part of ensuring each car put on the market is equally as safe as the other. It takes countless iterations of an automobile’s design to properly standardize things like hood shape, foam padding density, and pedestrian safety protocols.
Keeping pedestrians safe is not typically the first thing you think about when reviewing specifications for a car’s design, but how you plan for pedestrian impact protection is one of the most crucial parts to consider. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 5,977 pedestrians were killed in traffic collisions in 2017.

You would think this process of standardization is universal, but the truth is that automotive safety standards can differ based on geographic location. For instance, American automobiles are not held to the same standards for pedestrian safety as European cars, resulting in a noticeable disparity between their designs. The variations are subtle but meaningful.

To understand why these differences are so important and how our team is addressing them through our innovative solutions, we will discuss:

• European pedestrian safety standards
• American pedestrian safety standards
• Reasons why these nations differ in their pedestrian impact protections
• How Windpact addresses these situations when safety is compromised
• What are the European safety standards for automotive vehicles?

European automobile manufacturers must construct their cars under oversight from the European Union. The governing body of the EU administers the General Safety Regulation, which is a dossier outlining mandatory safety requirements for all motor vehicles manufactured, published in the EU’s journal.

Notably, as of December of last year, the revised General Safety Regulation will require automobile manufacturers to make pedestrian safety protocols mandatory for all vehicles by addressing pedestrians and cyclists’ specific concerns.

This includes new technologies such as:

• Warnings of drowsiness or distraction
• Speed assistance
• Sensors for reversing
• Data recording in the event of an accident
• Advanced emergency braking systems
• Crash-test approved safety belts
• With regards to the overall design, European vehicles differ in substantial ways:
• A minimum of 20mm clearance between the hood and the topmost part of the engine, raising the front of the hood itself by 20mm.
• Raised front seats (due to the increased space pulled from stretching the hood 20mm) and taller roofs.
• Smaller wheel size due to a higher beltline from the increased open space in the carriage.
• An emphasis on reducing impact severity on the legs and the head through softer materials inside bumpers like foams and crushable plastics.

These modifications are extensive, but they are based on a large body of research conducted by the European Union in concert with efforts coordinated by the United Nations. Global interest in keeping both motorists and pedestrians safe on the road galvanized a revisit of past standards.

What are the American safety standards for automotive vehicles?

The Federal Motor and Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are a collection of regulations by the United States that specify all motor vehicles’ safety requirements. While the EU, by and large bases its regulations on the United Nations research and recommendations, the FMVSS is developed within the framework of US regulatory bodies. Thus, there is a noticeable difference between American safety standards and European safety standards.
FMVSS is enforced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), who are given this authority by way of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulates all American automobile manufacturers, and they have used modern technology inside their vehicles, similar to European manufacturers. Sensors, improved seatbelts, and crush resistant roofs are only a few of the innovations American auto companies have deployed in recent years. Many automotive manufacturers have championed vehicle safety as part of their advertising campaigns, such as the 2019 Ford Ranger, just to name one.

Furthermore, how safety regulations are designed and implemented differs substantially between the US and EU, who primarily rely on UN suggestions. The reason for the United States adopting its own regulatory testing procedures were never specified. Still, the current conversation surrounding updates to these regulations to include EU standards is moving in a promising direction.

One of the main problems with this model is that these technologies only protect the driver and occupants of the vehicle, not necessarily the pedestrians. Oddly enough, potential regulations for these pedestrian-centric safety modifications were once studied in the 1970s until the 1990s, but NHTSA never deployed them according to StreetBlog USA.

Why the difference?

Market research conducted by Automotive News suggests that American safety regulators are unsure if European pedestrian protection modifications would make much of a difference here in the States, citing numerous factors like:

Cost of new technologies, with these added costs being put on the consumer.

Unlike the EU, American motorists drive far more all-terrain vehicles or light trucks, which are difficult to outfit with technologies suggested by the EU and the UN.

Issues with styling; outfitting EU standards would substantially change the look and design of the vehicle, which both manufacturers and consumers weigh heavily.

Furthermore, the manner in which safety regulations are designed and implemented differs substantially between the US and EU, who primarily rely on UN suggestions. The reason for the United States adopting its own regulatory testing procedures were never completely specified, but the current conversation surrounding updates to these regulations to include EU standards is moving in a promising direction.

How does Windpact provide smarter solutions?

Windpact recognizes both the understandable hesitance of American car manufacturers to adopt EU standards based on the rising cost and the need for better safety solutions for drivers and pedestrians. We know that it should never be a choice between cost and safety; we believe that engineers should have the best of both worlds.

Our team prides itself on finding smart solutions for today’s safety problems. Our group knows that standards are always updating, and the need for answers grows more urgent as motor vehicle deaths continue to occur annually.

Part of revolutionizing car safety for pedestrians means recognizing the factors that work and are implementable here in the United States. As we have explained, one of the most common hesitancies from manufacturers is adding more materials and driving up costs. Luckily, Windpact’s proprietary database of characterized foam materials puts us in a unique position to equip automobile manufacturers with the exact materials best for their designs based on performance and cost. This database has been compiled based on a rigorous process of iteration and measuring, so our clients know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will have the solution they need. The database is also able to integrate seamlessly with Finite Element Modeling, a process integral to automotive engineering.

With regard to our engineering team, we have been able to achieve great successes with some of the major American automotive manufacturers. In one R&D effort, Windpact was able to improve upon an existing headliner material by ~10%. In addition to the performance improvement, the Crash Cloud provided the vehicle with multi-impact protection in that location, something the existing foam does not. Finally, Windpact was able to demonstrate that by reducing the overall pad height by 25%, the Crash Clouds still performed as well or better than the existing solution at its full height. That means we can gain ~750 cubic inches of space within a vehicle creating more room, and therefore, comfort, to all passengers while making the vehicle interior safer; that’s a win-win!

Whether you’re inside or outside of the car, your safety should always be the priority. In conjunction with federal regulations, Windpact’s research offers new tools and possibilities for manufacturers to meet current standards without sacrificing cost, performance, or design.