Employing Laminated Composite-Metal Multilayer Panels in Car's Structure and Body to Increase Pedestrian Safety

Road casualties have declined in most countries in the European Union during the last twenty years. Designing new cars and technical methods in safety, enforcing traffic laws, as well as immediate emergency services have helped preventing accidents. In recent years, various measures have been conducted in the European Union to increase pedestrian safety. For this purpose, the European Committee was formed to address vehicle safety, and various studies on pedestrian safety were conducted. The Committee’s task was to determine the accepted test methods and standards that the cars need to met. Based on this research, suggestions regarding vehicle structure were offered and test methods for pedestrian protection in frontal collisions were determined. Reviewing accidents statistics in different countries show that most fatal pedestrian accidents are related to head injuries as result of collision. One of the new methods to reduce injuries is to change the structure’s material and body panels and replacing them with integrated steel laminated composite panels, especially the car’s hood. This significantly reduces acceleration, which, in turn, reduces fatal accidents. Employing multi-layer panels in automotive body structure also has other advantages, such as increasing crash energy absorption, reducing occupant damage, reducing car weight and fuel consumption.