Leonidas: the world’s safest Crash Cushion

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼!
All road restraint systems installed on the European roads are certified according to EN 1317. The UNI EN 1317 standard classifies crash cushions according to speed and the ability to redirect the vehicle in the event of side impacts. But there are obvious shortcomings.
The crash cushion, while protecting the obstacles, is itself an obstacle.
A short compact crash cushion has a smaller overall size, therefore it protects the drivers from hazards by reducing the likelihood that an impact occurs.
Therefore, the device must have two main features:
- protect drivers from possible impacts against the obstacle;
- do not occupy the carriageway.
Furthermore, the crash cushion must avoid any propagation of flames in the event of a fire. Tunnel fires are extremely dangerous, this is one of the reasons why a crash cushion with plastic elements can be dangerous.
Compliance with the Standard is required for certification, but it is far away from guaranteeing the road users' safety. EU Standard crash tests are carried out with vehicles from 800 to 1500 kg mass.
However, the use of vehicles over 1800 kg (such as SUVs) is constantly increasing.
The EN 1317 criteria for measuring passenger safety according to the standard is called the "ASI Index". Unfortunately, there is a mistaken belief that a product with an ASI class A index is safer than a product with a class B. Special tools are required to adequately demonstrate passenger safety. The best tools are the bio-mechanical parameters.
EN 1317 does not allow to measure such parameters, therefore we must use a different, more accurate standard, such as the EuroNCAP standard.
EuroNCAP is constantly used to evaluate passenger safety of the new vehicles available on the market.
An instrumented dummy is placed on board of the vehicle in order to test the injuries to the head, the spine and the chest after the impact.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗥𝗥 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲
Every single road safety system must offer three main benefits:
• 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: Leonidas is the only crash cushion "beyond the standard". We tested the same device at 130 km/h since that is the speed limit on our motorways and decided to conduct a crash test using a Euro NCAP dummies which are equipped with all the sensors needed to assess the effect of the accident and the impact on the vehicle’s occupant;
• 𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: All SMA devices are robust because we use a special honeycomb panel that absorbs energy as it is deformed, with extraordinary efficiency. Furthermore the full process during the energy absorption is driven by the lower rail which avoids any unpredictable behaviour;
• 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: SMA collects as many photographs and/or written testimonials on device's performance as possible. So far, results have always been positive: following an impact, the vehicles’ occupants have always managed to exit the vehicle safe and sound.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱𝘆.
PRR evaluation is mandatory to select road safety systems to avoid tragedies.
For further information on SMA products, contact us at [e-mail].