New Energy Absorbing Frontal Protection Systems (FPS) for SUVs and Vans Will Save Lives and Reduce Injuries

LEAMINGTON SPA, England, June 27 --

New energy absorbing plastic fronts for SUVs and vans will save lives and reduce serious injuries to vulnerable road users according to Concept Mouldings, a leading, UK based automotive parts supplier.

More than 900 UK and 12,000 European pedestrians and cyclists are killed every year and more than 9,000 and 290,000 respectively are seriously injured according to latest statistics produced by the UK's Transport Research Laboratory (TRL).

Testing of Concept's revolutionary new plastic frontal protection system has been carried out at MIRA, one of Europe's leading vehicle design, development and certification centres. The tests showed the frontal protection system reduced the risk of head injuries from over 99 per cent in the worst case down to less than 2 per cent and also substantially reduced the potential for injuries to the upper leg, abdomen and pelvis. Head injuries from the fronts of vehicles are typically incurred by children and these often prove to be fatal. Details of the results and information on this development in pedestrian safety are available on www.frontalprotectionsystems.eu.

The testing was based on typical large 4 x 4 vehicles and vans which are currently available in the UK and the rest of Europe. The new frontal protection system works by absorbing energy and protecting pedestrians from hard parts at the front of vehicles such as the bonnet leading edge, radiator and engine.

Details of this new generation of products will also be available on the Concept Mouldings exhibition stand at the British International Motor Show between the 20th and 30th of July 2006, with special press and trade presentations available on the 18th and 19th of July respectively.

The makers of large 4 x 4s are already working hard to improve the safety of their vehicles with the likelihood of new EU legislation which demands safer vehicle fronts being phased in after 2012. The testing carried out at MIRA was based on EU requirements for frontal protection systems.

"One of the most exciting aspects of our results is that because our products can be fitted as an aftermarket product by owners of vehicles we can start saving lives and serious injuries now rather than waiting for a long term legislative process", said Ian Finney, Managing Director of Concept Mouldings.

"The benefits are also likely to continue as vehicle design improves. For example, the results of testing our product on current vehicles are even better than on vehicles produced 10 years ago."

For further detail about Concept Mouldings see the recently updated website www.conceptmouldings.co.uk

- A recent report from the Commission for Global Road Safety highlighted that road traffic deaths represent a global public health crisis and one of the recommended measures was to manufacture safer vehicle fronts, so as to reduce injury to vulnerable road users.

- The UK government is putting an extra GBP15 million into encouraging more cycling over the next three years but safety concerns remain for this vulnerable group of road users.