HIGHER SPEEDS NEED GREATER IMPACT ABSORPTION In conjunction with the
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2003 Scania Road Safety Conference, various workshops were held on the topic of tar-to-truck crash compatibility', with participants drawn from truck manufacturers, the European Commission and various road safety research establishments. The workshop report concluded that an 800mm brig, purpose-built deformable impact structure on an HGV "could realistically increase the survivable speed [in a car-truck head-on crash] by 35km/h... and a 300-400mm long energy-absorbing structure would be necessary to provide protection at impact speeds up to 75krn/h." However, the workshop group also concluded that in the event of a head-on smash, it is the human body that sets the limitations "...since only a certain level of deceleration is survivable". Moreover, the group also heard that while a crash zone can absorb energy and reduce the consequences of a crash, "...a smaller passenger car will suffer a higher deceleration level than a large one due to the differences in mass."