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Volvo Cars and POC develop world-first car-bike helmet crash test

Could Volvo and POC end the helmet debate? Swedish firms partner for "world first" car and cycle helmet crash tests (+ video)

They say project will enable "direct comparison" of effect of using a helmet against not wearing one...
by Simon_MacMichael
Mon, Jun 03, 2019 20:19
94

Could Volvo Cars and POC be about to settle the helmet debate? The Swedish brands have teamed up for what they claim is a "world-first" series of crash tests that will assess the impact on cycle helmets in collisions with cars – and, by comparing the results with those of existing regulations regarding pedestrian head protection, will enable them “to make a direct comparison between wearing a helmet and not wearing a helmet.”

Volvo says that the initiative is a development of its existing strategy of looking to avoid collisions altogether through features such as cyclist and pedestrian detection systems in its vehicles.

The Volvo-POC research project will see a number of specially designed crash tests at the car manufacturer’s safety research facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden.

It also forms part of wider research aimed at obtaining a greater understanding of the types of long-term injuries sustained by cyclists.

The tests will involve POC cycle helmets, mounted on crash test dummy heads, being launched from a testing rig towards different areas of the bonnet of a static Volvo car.

The helmets will be fired at different speeds and angles, says the car manufacturer, and the tests are in line with current regulatory test procedures for pedestrian head protection, which the two companies say will enable them “to make a direct comparison between wearing a helmet and not wearing a helmet.” They add:

Current bike helmet testing procedures are fairly rudimentary, involving helmets being dropped from different heights on either a flat or an angled surface, and do not take into account vehicle to bike accidents. The Volvo-POC project aims to further refine and advance such testing.

The learnings from the research project will help POC make its helmets safer and more protective in the event of a car-bike accident, while the tests will also provide valuable insights and learnings for Volvo Cars into these types of accidents for future development.

Malin Ekholm, Head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre, said: “This project with POC is a good example of our pioneering spirit in safety.

“We often develop new testing methods for challenging traffic scenarios. Our aim is not only to meet legal requirements or pass rating tests; instead, we go beyond ratings, using real traffic situations to develop technology that further improves safety.”

“Much like Volvo Cars, safety is at the very centre of our mission, and drives all our ideas and innovations,” commented Oscar Huss, Head of Product Development at POC.

“By working closely with scientific leaders in the POC Lab, we strive to lead the way in introducing new safety ideas. Certification standards are essential, but they should never limit our willingness to look beyond their parameters to find better and more innovative ways to reduce the consequences of accidents.”

Volvo
Volvo Cars
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Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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94 comments

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OldRidgeback replied to xerxes | 5 years ago
1 like

xerxes wrote:

Here's an idea, instead of cyclists wearing what is effectively a polystyrene colander, which due to the limiting factors of bulk and weight, only protects the head and minimaly, why not add padding to cars which could be be far thicker and more protective.

Many cars are already the size of a bungalow and weigh a couple of thousand kilos, so a few extra kilos of "crash foam" several inches thick on the outside wouldn't be noticed, it would also offer protection to whatever part of a person it came into contact with, not just the head and protect pedestrians as well.

Adding softer components on cars has been tried in the past. The MGs of the late 70s had rubber bumpers. I think Volvo tested some prototypes with a rubber bonnet. And the Citroen BX had a plastic bonnet as I recall.

It's not a bad idea at all and it wouldn't have to be expensive either.

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LastBoyScout replied to OldRidgeback | 5 years ago
0 likes

OldRidgeback wrote:

Adding softer components on cars has been tried in the past. The MGs of the late 70s had rubber bumpers. I think Volvo tested some prototypes with a rubber bonnet. And the Citroen BX had a plastic bonnet as I recall.

It's not a bad idea at all and it wouldn't have to be expensive either.

Rubber bumpers on MGs was a cheap fix to meet Federal safety standard FMVSS 215, introduced on 1st Sept 1972, so they could sell the cars in the US. Note that this standard only applied up to 5mph and only applied to exterior protection of specific car components - nothing to do with making them safer for the occupants or anyone hit by the vehicle.

Post-1974, they also had to meet a minimum front and rear bumper height, which they did by just jacking up the suspension. Along with the extra weight of the rubber bumpers (over chrome ones), this caused handling problems and these cars were less safe to drive and more accident prone!

Back on topic, I know Renault have played around with fibreglass bodywork in the past, but no idea how extensively or what they're up to these days.

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PRSboy replied to xerxes | 5 years ago
0 likes

xerxes wrote:

Here's an idea, instead of cyclists wearing what is effectively a polystyrene colander, which due to the limiting factors of bulk and weight, only protects the head and minimaly, why not add padding to cars which could be be far thicker and more protective.

Many cars are already the size of a bungalow and weigh a couple of thousand kilos, so a few extra kilos of "crash foam" several inches thick on the outside wouldn't be noticed, it would also offer protection to whatever part of a person it came into contact with, not just the head and protect pedestrians as well.

I owned a Jaguar which had a pedestrian safety device that fired the bonnet upward to provide a cushion between it and the engine, acting as a 'crumple zone' for the pedestrian.

Regulations have changed car design quite a lot, to improve pedestrian (and hopefully cyclist) safety.

At the end of the day, the only real benefit will come from technology avoiding the accident in the first place via autonomous braking/steering.  There is only so much that can be achieved from crash protection without changing the laws of physics.

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gmac101 replied to xerxes | 5 years ago
0 likes

xerxes wrote:

Here's an idea, instead of cyclists wearing what is effectively a polystyrene colander, which due to the limiting factors of bulk and weight, only protects the head and minimaly, why not add padding to cars which could be be far thicker and more protective.

Many cars are already the size of a bungalow and weigh a couple of thousand kilos, so a few extra kilos of "crash foam" several inches thick on the outside wouldn't be noticed, it would also offer protection to whatever part of a person it came into contact with, not just the head and protect pedestrians as well.

Actually the lightweight steel covering  most of a car is pretty good at preventing injury to pedestrians and cyclists as it deforms quite easily.  The problem lies at the edges where is becomes stiffer and the hard components of the engine that injure the victim as the bonnet deflects and then deforms around them.   Current EU regulations actually require a certain gap between the engine and the bonnet to minimise the risk of the victims head striking the engine

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