Mr. Hynd introduced TRL’s assessment of the cost benefit issue (document TF-BTA-5-04). He explained that the assessment is based on OTS and GIDAS injury data and the TRL used a conservative as well as a more optimistic approach for their calculations. He concluded that finally between 71 and 473 serious injuries per annum could be prevented in the EU and that this would result in saving 15 to 100 million euro per year.

When Mr. Hynd presented the accident figures Mr. Roth and Mr. Buenger explained that the assessment for the vehicles may not be appropriate since the vehicles in the periods looked at by TRL had not yet been designed to meet pedestrian safety criteria. At that time, no legal requirements existed and designing vehicles towards compliance with consumer metric requirements had more or less just started. However, vehicles may have had a certain performance but this more or less was just by accident. Mr. Schmitt added that, again, the average age of the vehicles in the fleet needs to be considered. Also, Mr. Buenger pointed out that there are several vehicles on the market where the test areas are much wider and that such vehicles also need to be appropriately considered in an assessment of the benefits.

Mr. Hynd summarized that the OTS and GIDAS data are broadly representative for EU accidents. In addition, improvements can only be expected for the reduction of serious injuries to slight injuries.

Mr. Zander asked why it was impossible to have slight injuries converted into non-injuries and Mr. Hynd responded that such cases may indeed occur but are assessed to be very unlikely in a collision of a pedestrian with a vehicle. In any case, a pedestrian would be expected to have at least slight injuries. On request of Mr. Zander Mr. Hynd also noted that fatal leg injuries may occur but are usually quite unlikely.

Mr. Buenger wondered whether the estimation of the accident numbers may not be representative: Especially the number of less severe injuries could be underreported. Mr. Hynd confirmed that for the UK the accident figures are only those taken from police reports; hospitals of course have different data.

Also, Mr. Buenger noted that outboard areas were shown to not have issues with the criteria, only in a small extension to today’s test area testing seems to make sense. So, the benefit again will be smaller. In addition, as already mentioned there are vehicles on the market that will not have a widened test area due to their less arrow-shaped or rounded styling. Mr. Roth added that therefore in many cases a more detailed review of the accident data could be beneficial. As Mr. Hynd explained, TRL unfortunately has no access to the detailed data. Mr. Roth noted that this could be done via the German colleagues but that it needs certain efforts. Mr. Zander promised to double-check with BASt what support could be provided here.

After some further discussion Mr. Hynd promised to take all the comments back to TRL to check how they can be considered appropriately.