Various Approaches to Reduce Consequences of Pedestrian-Tram Front End Collision

Safety of rail vehicles is an important feature of sustainable public transport. Proofs of an ef-fort in that area are new recommendations and regulations from the expert commission (WG2 of the Technical Committee CEN / TC 256) regarding trams and light rail vehicles aimed at vulnerable road users. Additional requirements on tram safety can be requested by the vehicle operator and/or city. Pedestrian safety measures can be adopted from the automotive sector utilising the protection principles from Regulation EC No. 78/2009, ECE/UN regulations, and EuroNCAP tests. The purpose of this publication is to introduce a simplified testing method for the tram front end with respect to pedestrian head-on collisions. Testing methods based on segment impactors were generally accepted. The wrap-around distance defines the assessment of vehicle impact areas. A mathematical model was created to compare the results of the full-scale tests and the segment tests done by the standard and simplified aluminium head impactors. The tram front-end design can be tested using this alternate method, based on a simple impactor and easy methodology, providing an efficient tool to inspire both the tram manufacturers and vehicle operators to improve the vulnerable road users' safety in city traffic.