{{more citations needed|date=May 2009}} thumb|Old style bull bar (This is actually a winch bumper, and was not affected by the legislation regarding FPS) thumb|New, pedestrian-friendly Frontal Protection System
A '''frontal protection system''' ('''FPS''') is a device fitted to the front end of a vehicle to protect both pedestrians and cyclists who are involved in the unfortunate event of a front-end collision with a vehicle.
After public concerns about the safety of bull bars led to governmental pressure on SUV and 4x4 vehicle manufacturers, the Transport Research Laboratory developed a series of tests designed to ensure that minimum safety standards are met on vehicles fitted with them. This test has now become embodied within European Directive 2005/66/EC, coming into force in May 2007.
Effectively outlawing traditional metal fabricated bull bars, the new legislation has led to the development of more pedestrian-friendly products. Various manufacturers have undertaken development using softer, energy absorbing materials. However the overhead of testing has prevented many designs from coming to market.
==Operation== An FPS attaches to the front of a vehicle like a bull bar, but is made of a technical composite of energy-absorbing materials. The composite technology offers an interim solution to vehicle designers, assisting them to meet EC Directive 2003/102/EC Phase 2.
thumb|left|Intrusion into base vehicle without an FPS: 200mm thumb|right|Intrusion into base vehicle with an FPS: 50-60mm {{Clear}} Testing in 2001<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rmd.dft.gov.uk/project.asp?intProjectID=10328 |title=DfT Research: A Study of Accidents Involving Bull Bar Equipped Vehicles |publisher=Rmd.dft.gov.uk |date=2001-04-01 |accessdate=2011-11-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612151909/http://www.rmd.dft.gov.uk/project.asp?intProjectID=10328 |archive-date=2007-06-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> showed that steel bull bars could lead to greater risk of injury. Later studies carried out by MIRA, one of the UK's leading testing-facilities, may have proved that the latest{{when|date=October 2011}} development of a vehicle Frontal Protection System can make many{{which|date=October 2011}} 4x4 vehicles safer in the event of front-end collisions with pedestrians or cyclists. Calculations based on these tests show that if fitted to a current{{as of?|date=May 2012}} large 4x4 vehicle, an FPS could save lives and reduce serious pedestrian-injuries.
This legislation amounts to a de facto ban on Frontal Protection Systems, due to the high cost of compliance and type testing, and the sheer complexity of the law. The type testing procedure can be seen [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32009R0631:EN:NOT here].
At least one small manufacturer of FPS has ceased production in the UK due to the costs of testing exceeding £100,000 per design. They now sell winch bumpers made from solid steel instead, which are not banned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sidesteps.co.uk/shop/product-category/winch-bumper/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-07-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609034713/http://sidesteps.co.uk/shop/product-category/winch-bumper/ |archive-date=2012-06-09 }}</ref> The company behind the push for the change in the law, Concept Mouldings Ltd, ironically went bankrupt<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.duedil.com/company/02343052/concept-mouldings-limited|title = DueDil}}</ref> due to these high costs of testing.
[http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/documents/directives/directive-2005-66-ec_en.htm Directive 2005/66/EC] was repealed effective 24 November 2009.
==See also== *Pedestrian safety through vehicle design *Automobile safety *Roadkill *Off-roading *Automotive aftermarket
==References== <references />
==External links== *http://www.frontalprotectionsystems.eu (not working) *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070209103120/http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/directives/vehicles/2005_66_ce.html European Directive] (repealed 2009, replaced by ) *[http://www.vca.gov.uk/ Vehicle Certification Authority (VCA)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926195748/http://www.vca.gov.uk/ |date=2006-09-26 }} *[http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/homepage/dft_home_page.hcsp Department of transport] *[http://www.trl.co.uk/ Transport Research Laboratory (TRA)] *[http://www.euroncap.com/ Euro NCAP] *[http://www.racfoundation.org/ RAC Foundation] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060718211725/http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/index.htm Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070627002716/http://www.thatcham.org/home.jsp Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre (Thatcham)] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070811210002/http://www.uk.tuv.com/web/news_%26_events/articles/Frontal%20Protection.htm TUV International UK]
Category:Vehicle safety technologies