A series of tests are carried out to replicate accidents involving child and adult pedestrians where impacts occur at 40kph (25mph). Impact sites are then assessed and rated fair, weak and poor. As with other tests, these are based on European Enhanced Vehicle-safety Committee guidelines
It is very difficult to assess pedestrian protection using a full dummy. Although it is possible to control the point of impact of the bumper against the pedestrian’s leg, it is impossible to control where the dummy’s head will subsequently strike. To overcome this problem, individual component tests are used. A Legform test assesses the protection afforded to the lower leg by the bumper, an Upper Legform assesses the leading edge of the bonnet and child and adult Headforms are used to assess the bonnet top area.
Protection can be improved with pedestrian friendly bumpers, which deform when they hit a pedestrian’s leg. Protection is improved if the leg is impacted low down, away from the knee, and if the forces are spread over a longer length of leg. For the leading edge of the bonnet, improvements can result from the removal of un-necessarily stiff structures. To protect the head, the bonnet top area needs to be able to deflect. It is important that sufficient clearance is provided above the stiff structures beneath, which would stop this deflection.
Euro NCAP released a separate star rating for pedestrian valid from 1997 to 2009. The pedestrian protection rating was based on the adult and child head form tests and the two legform tests. As of 2009, the pedestrian score has become integral part of the overall rating scheme, however the technical assessment has remained the same.
See also FAQ: Pedestrian Safety