|  Looks
aren't everything, when it comes to damage resistance!
Bumpers on most new cars are color-coordinated plastic "wrappers,"
molded sleekly around the front and back ends of the vehicles. They
may please the eye, but whether these bumpers protect the vehicle
they surround from damage in low-speed impacts is another matter.
According to the National Institute for Highway Safety, how well the
car is protected depends largely on what's underneath the plastic.
Bumper systems usually include a reinforcement bar plus energy-absorbing
material, such as polypropylene foam. Better bumpers often have hydraulic
shock absorbers instead of, or in addition to, the foam.
How strong the reinforcement bar is, how much foam is included, where
the energy-absorbing materials are placed and how the bumper system
is attached to the car body matter a lot when it comes to performance.
Another damage factor is how far a bumper extends from the
car body. Many bumpers fit smoothly for style reasons. But distance
between the bumper and car body is essential. The more a bumper extends
from a car body -- when other factors remain equal -- the more it
absorbs crash energy and reduces damage.
Minor collisions at 5 mph can end up costing anywhere from a few hundred
to several thousand rupees.Some automakers are improving the bumpers
on their cars so consumers are less likely to experience expensive
repairs from low-speed collisions. At one time, there were no bumper
standards to cover passenger vans. Today's utility vehicles are not
subject to any requirements to prevent damage, therefore, these bumpers
do not resist damage in impacts at low speed.
 Because
most of the bumpers on late model cars include a reinforced bumper
bar and foam or other material to absorb the energy of a crash, they
perform better. The bumpers on sport-utes, though, don't. An additional
problem with sport utility vehicle bumpers is that the parts are expensive,
which increases the cost of repairs.
Why has bumper effectiveness been reduced in preventing damage in
a minor collision? One reason could be that statutory bumper standards
were made quite loose. As a result, many of today's bumpers allow
cars to be damaged more easily.
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