Safety is a principal consideration in
automotive design, and the factory systems have become quite
sophisticated. One of the oldest safety components on a car is the
bumper. In relative terms, the bumper’s operation is much simpler than
that of airbags, antilock brakes, backup cameras, and other safety
features. However, its function is just as important, so it can bea good
idea to have some understanding of what a bumper is supposed to do and
when its integrity has been compromised. The latter issue is of
particular salience with regard to the front bumper.In light of the
daily occurrence of low-speed crashesgiventoday’s congested driving
conditions, an effective bumper system can save thousands in repair
costs.
Front bumpers function essentially as shields. In contemporary designs, many are covered in plastic, with the reinforcement bar fabricated from various materials including steel, aluminum, and fiberglass composite. Their purpose is to protect car bodies during low-speed impacts. Bumper systems include compressible mechanisms to absorb the energy of a crash. For a bumper to reduce or prevent damage, in a low-speed collision, there must be some distance between the internal reinforcement bar and the rest of the automobile.
Given different aesthetic philosophies of automakers, there can be quite a bit of variation in bumper parts and performance. Some automakers privilege style over safety, which means that even the most minor collisions can result in costly damage to the car.
Although it is possible that an extremely low-speed collision won’t cause any physical harm at all to a front bumper, most low-speed crashes do leave at least cosmetic damage. Cosmetic damage, such as might occur to the front bumper’s plastic cover, should not degrade safety performance. It is then a matter of personal taste as to whether you want to pursue restoration.
However, higher-speed crashes and some low-speed collisions, particularly those where impact occurs on the bumper corner or at an angle, can result in more profound physical damage to the reinforcement bar. For example, the parts designed to absorb crash energy could crumple, leaving no space between the reinforcement bar and sheet metal behind it. Such crash damage can be considered to have compromised the integrity of the bumper system. The front bumper system likely won’t perform to even the minimum standard required under federal regulations, putting the car at risk of serious damage should another accident occur. The inability for a front bumper to absorb the energy of a collision means that far more force of any impact will be passed through to the car and to the people inside.
If you have been in a low-speed crash and cannot determine with certainty if the front bumper’s ability to perform has been impaired, consider bringing your car into a reputable auto body shop for a professional analysis.
Learn more about bumper repair and frame straightening in Raleigh.
Front bumpers function essentially as shields. In contemporary designs, many are covered in plastic, with the reinforcement bar fabricated from various materials including steel, aluminum, and fiberglass composite. Their purpose is to protect car bodies during low-speed impacts. Bumper systems include compressible mechanisms to absorb the energy of a crash. For a bumper to reduce or prevent damage, in a low-speed collision, there must be some distance between the internal reinforcement bar and the rest of the automobile.
Given different aesthetic philosophies of automakers, there can be quite a bit of variation in bumper parts and performance. Some automakers privilege style over safety, which means that even the most minor collisions can result in costly damage to the car.
Although it is possible that an extremely low-speed collision won’t cause any physical harm at all to a front bumper, most low-speed crashes do leave at least cosmetic damage. Cosmetic damage, such as might occur to the front bumper’s plastic cover, should not degrade safety performance. It is then a matter of personal taste as to whether you want to pursue restoration.
However, higher-speed crashes and some low-speed collisions, particularly those where impact occurs on the bumper corner or at an angle, can result in more profound physical damage to the reinforcement bar. For example, the parts designed to absorb crash energy could crumple, leaving no space between the reinforcement bar and sheet metal behind it. Such crash damage can be considered to have compromised the integrity of the bumper system. The front bumper system likely won’t perform to even the minimum standard required under federal regulations, putting the car at risk of serious damage should another accident occur. The inability for a front bumper to absorb the energy of a collision means that far more force of any impact will be passed through to the car and to the people inside.
If you have been in a low-speed crash and cannot determine with certainty if the front bumper’s ability to perform has been impaired, consider bringing your car into a reputable auto body shop for a professional analysis.
Learn more about bumper repair and frame straightening in Raleigh.
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