Bumper Safety

Between 1980 and 1982, the standards got a little tougher, prohibiting all but minor cosmetic damage to bumpers. The area of protection was defined as 16 to 20 inches above the road surface. The automotive industry met these standards and in some cases exceeded it.


For instance, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 1981 Ford Escort not only survived the required minimum without a scratch, but also came out unscathed in even more demanding crash tests: the 5 mph front-into-angle-barrier test and the rear-into-pole test. These same tests on lesser, newer vehicles have resulted in damages in excess of $1,000.

Meeting Demands
Since then, auto manufacturers have to deal with conflicting demands: aesthetics, costs for consumer, and lighter weight vehicles to meet fuel economy requirements. The difficulties involved in meeting the 5 mph test resulted in a standard reduction in 1982. The new criterion became the 2.5-mph crash test, and the bumper and attachments could be destroyed during the test as long as the vehicle body panels were left intact.


Again, these standards only apply to passenger cars—which brings us to another sticky point. The protected area, defined by the standards for passenger cars, is 16 to 20 inches above the roadway. The bumper heights on light trucks vary, depending on modifications such as suspension lifts and the size of the vehicle.

Vehicle Height
Light trucks usually perform specific work functions that require greater clearance for approach and departure on steep grades, especially in off-road conditions. So what is happening is bumper mismatch: a one-ton pickup or SUV's bumper can be considerably higher, resulting in body damage to an impacted passenger car and, conceivably, damage to the truck below the bumper. This issue of bumper mismatch is gaining more attention simply because there are more light trucks on the road today than ever before, most being driven within the passenger car arena.