New EC Regulation on Pedestrian Protection Published

The original EC Directive on pedestrian protection, 2003/102/EC, introduced pedestrian protection requirements in two stages. Both stages utilised the same test procedures, but the injury limits for Stage 2 were more stringent than those applied in Stage 1. Despite the fact that the technical requirements for 2003/102/EC were only finalised after many years of discussion and negotiation, and numerous cost/benefit and feasibility studies, many vehicle manufacturers were still of the opinion that compliance with the Stage 2 limits was not feasible. For this reason, 2003/102/EC included a review clause on the feasibility of the Stage 2 limits, with the review to be undertaken using data gathered during testing to the Stage 1 requirements.

The review on the feasibility of the Stage 2 limits was concluded in 2007 and, as a result of this review, a number of relaxations to the Stage 2 limits were proposed (Note: these revised Stage 2 limits were used as a basis for the recently published Global Technical Regulation on pedestrian protection, GTR No. 9). To offset these relaxations and to ensure that the reductions in pedestrian fatalities and injuries predicted for the original Stage 2 limits were still achieved, the European Commission proposed mandating the fitment of Brake Assist systems. Brake Assist systems are systems designed to sense an emergency braking situation and assist the driver in achieving the maximum achievable deceleration in the prevailing conditions. Such systems have been shown to have significant benefits in terms of pedestrian protection.

The Commission proposed that these revised pedestrian protection requirements should be published in a new EC Regulation which would repeal and replace the existing EC Directive on pedestrian protection (2003/102/EC) and the related EC Directive on frontal protection systems (2005/66/EC).

The new EC Regulation on pedestrian protection, which repeals and replaces 2003/102/EEC and 2005/66/EC, introduces revised Stage 2 limits and mandates the fitment of brake assist systems was published on 4th February 2009. This new Regulation differs from EC Directive 2003/102/EC in the following respects:

• The scope of the Regulation is extended to cover all M1 and N1 category vehicles.
• Requirements for the mandatory fitment of Brake Assist systems are introduced.
• The limits for the Stage 2 lower legform to bumper impact tests are relaxed (i.e. maximum permissible dynamic knee bending angle increased from 15 degrees to 19 degrees and maximum permissible acceleration at upper end of tibia increased from 150 g to 170 g).
• The limits for the Stage 2 upper legform to bumper test are reduced to the same limits specified for Stage 1.
• The speed for the Stage 2 child / small adult and adult headform impact tests is reduced to the same speed specified for Stage 1 (i.e. from 40 km/h to 35 km/h).
• The limits and applicable zones for the Stage 2 child / small adult and adult headform impact tests are relaxed.

(Note: The Stage 1 limits in the new Regulation are identical to those contained in 2003/102/EC.)

Compliance with the requirements of this new Regulation become mandatory from the following dates:

* Vehicles in the following categories are exempt from compliance with both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 limits if the driver's R point is either forward of the front axle or longitudinally rearwards of the front axle transverse centre line by a maximum of 1100 mm:

• M1 Category vehicles with a GVW exceeding 2500 kg which are derived from N1 Category vehicles.
• N1 Category vehicles.