Towing vehicle with a rope

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Really? Land Rover adopted Rangie suspension. Not before time, either.

[Andy Dingley]

Similarly don't confuse Range Rovers with proper (classic) Range Rovers

[hugh]

Right on :-)

[hugh]

In message , Tim Lamb writes

Yes, I believe there is a standard international bumper height set by those well known experts in design safety- the Americans - in the late

50s. It is just below knee height thus ensuring that when a pedestrian is hit they are flung up in the air to ensure maximum damage on the way down.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Some versions of the Mini had different height bumpers back and front.

[Steve Walker]

I thought that below knee height was supposed to be good - throwing you onto the bonnet/windscreen rather than dragging you under the car.

SteveW

[Frank Erskine]

You may remember that bumpers (the old chrome-plated ones) had overriders at either side to cater for differences in actual height between conflicting vehicles' bumpers...

[Dave Liquorice]

Being flung into the air is preferable to being pushed and trapped underneath or being run over by the wheels... I think there is less chance of suffering a bad knee injury with the impact below rather than above as well.

[The Natural Philosopher]

depends whether you land on your head and break your neck..my first witnessed RTA age 12.

[dennis]

Below the knee is the best you can do. Then you need energy absorption to stop you (the pedestrian) being thrown up too high. Then you need driver training to ensure he doesn't just pile on the brakes and throw you off causing you even more damage when you hit the ground. This will probably happen due to instinct anyway.

The OH's car has soft bumpers and a collapsible bonnet to help pedestrians survive a hit.

[Tim Lamb]

My first real car had rear overriders mounted on flat spring steel bolted to the chassis. Chassis! There a word you don't often hear:-)

regards

>

[dennis]

Yep, most cars got rid of that junk years ago.

[Jules Richardson]

This is why every vehicle needs a Spirit of Ecstasy-style ornament on the bonnet; it acts as an effective hook so they don't slide off again.

[Andy Champ]

Finally it makes sense to me why they are spring loaded; they pop down as the pedestrian goes on, then pop up so they don't fall off again...

Andy