This level of knowledge extends to vehicle restraint systems which provide the majority of secondary safety measures on major and minor roads throughout the world.

TRL has a strong tradition of developing crash tests to improve a vehicle's crashworthiness and it's generally recognised that one of the most promising ways to enhance car occupant safety is to improve vehicle crash compatibility. TRL has developed the Full Width Deformable Barrier (FWDB) test to assess a vehicle's frontal compatibility. This uses a load cell wall to measure a vehicle's frontal force distribution, enabling assessment of the potential for good structural interaction in a crash with another vehicle.

What Do We Do?

TRL can provide confidential and impartial advice to vehicle manufacturers by offering a bespoke research and testing programme to enhance their vehicles' safety. We can offer:

• numerical simulation
• sled testing
• full-scale testing
  • front and side impact compatibility
  • pre-NCAP testing
  • Euro NCAP testing
• design research and testing programmes.

Manufacturers can have confidence that they're dealing with experts who are familiar with the latest developments in Europe. TRL representatives sit on many European Committees and working groups, including the European Enhanced Vehicle Safety Committee (EEVC) and, as part of Working Group 13, TRL has been instrumental in the development of the Advanced European Mobile Deformable Barrier for side impact. TRL is also the only UK testing house accredited to perform official Euro NCAP tests.

TRL can provide the resources you need to undertake your research and development programmes, including experts in the field of vehicle crash safety and state-of-the-art facilities, enabling you to achieve both short- and long-term objectives in a timely, cost-effective manner.

Vehicle Restraint Systems

As with vehicle crash safety, TRL's experience and expertise in vehicle restraint systems stretches back over 40 years. Visible on the world's roads, such systems include:

• safety fences and barriers
• vehicle and pedestrian bridge parapets and guardrails
• crash cushions
• end terminals and anchorages
• transitions
• passively safe, energy-absorbing roadside features such as lighting columns and road signs
• road delineators.

Today, TRL experts participate actively in associated areas of research and development at national, European and international level. As a result, the comprehensive service offered to safety barrier manufacturers, highways authorities and stakeholder groups interested in roadside safety issues takes account of the latest developments in vehicle restraint systems globally.

Recent work undertaken includes: a significant number of full-scale impact tests to EN1317, EN12767 and NCHRP350, the current testing standards; critical assessments of both on-site safety barrier installations and the effect of installing lighting columns to median concrete barriers; assessment of the safety of MPV occupants during impacts with safety barriers; and participation in the European Commission part-funded ROBUST project.

We can offer:

• advice and testing for the entire product life-cycle
• design and development of vehicle restraint systems
• full-scale impact performance testing to EN1317, EN12767 and NCHRP350 testing standards
• a UKAS-accredited testing facility
• impartial technical advice on the implications of new European and international vehicle restraint systems standards
• In-service performance assessment. 

Recent Developments

TRL has expanded this work into other areas, most notably accident investigation which monitors the in-service performance of these safety devices to inform future product development and European performance standards.

In addition to TRL's historical links with national highways authorities, which continue to be maintained and expanded upon, TRL is now providing design and layout device to local authorities and private concerns. TRL's extensive knowledge base is now being applied to these lower-speed applications to improve the safety of local residents and employees.

If you're interested in learning more about the topics discussed in this section, or you can't find what you're looking for and would like to talk to someone in detail about a specific topic, please contact:

Dr Mervyn Edwards
Telephone: +44 (0) 1344 770723
Email: medwards@trl.co.uk

or

Gavin Williams
Telephone: +44 (0) 1344 770664
Email: gwilliams@trl.co.uk