AnswerID: 9454 Submitted: Monday, Dec 09, 2002 at 00:00
Robert
replied:
Splatt,
Yes I agree with your comment that bullbars should be sloping forward.
I would think that a bullbar has two main design objectives:
1. Prevent damage to the lights, grill etc and the leading edge of the bonnet.
2. Prevent an animal from going over the bonnet and possibly going through the windscreen.
And to best achieve both these requirements I would think that a bullbar should be sloping forward.
When I recently queried ARB on this, (via e-mail) this is part of the reply I got from them:
"Our own experience and
feedback from customers tells us that, in most cases, when struck by a four wheel drive vehicle fitted with a correctly designed ARB bull bar, an animal will most likely bounce off the front of the bar, glance of the side of the bar or go under the vehicle. It is unusual for an animal to go over the bonnet."
This left me wondering if that was the case then why were all bullbars until recent times designed sloping forwards?
Interestly when I asked ARB this very question I got no reply from them!
If the rear sloping bullbar is designed to allow a person to go over the bonnet then doesn't it stand to reason that a kangaroo would also go over the bonnet? I find it hard to believe that a kangaroo will be deflected totally different to a person.
One can only assume that pedestrian safety is far more important than occupants of a vehicle.
People have stated that they think a person being pushed forward and downwards is dangerous and maybe it is. But I also question how safe is it, for a vehicle design that allows a struck person to go over the vehicle and then possibly land in the path of the following vehicle?
Reply 4 of 5
