An aftermarket device developed by AirFlow Detector, Inc., called the AngelWing, recently prevented a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu sedan from sliding underneath a tractor trailer in a 40mph crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Held at IIHS’ Vehicle Research Center in Ruckersville, Virginia, the most recent test was the second time IIHS tested the AngelWing device, with the first being conducted at 35mph.
According to the institute, their researchers decided to see if the side guard would hold up at 40mph, which represents the speed in which it conducts its frontal crash tests of passenger cars.
Vehicle underrides occur when a smaller car crashes into a tractor trailer or truck and goes at least partially underneath it. Currently, federal regulations mandate that tractor trailers have underride guards on their rears, but not their sides.
Results from the recent 40mph test revealed that the trailer’s side guard bent, but did not allow the Chevrolet sedan to pass underneath it. Additionally, the car’s airbags and safety belt properly restrained the crash test dummy in the driver’s seat, decreasing the likelihood of injuries in a similar real-world crash.
In comparison, the 35mph test was conducted without a trailer side guard, which resulted in the Malibu being lodged underneath the trailer with part of its roof torn off. According to IIHS, a similar real-world crash would likely leave no survivors in the car.
“Our tests of the AngelWing show that measures to reduce the side underride problem are within reach,” David Zuby, executive vice president and chief research officer at IIHS, said. “Broader use of devices like this one, combined with continued improvements to rear underride guards, would go a long way toward reducing deaths in large truck crashes.”