Automakers could tie mattresses to car bumpers, but they’d prefer something more discreet. “There will be no striking differences visible from outside,” insists Alfredo Filippone, spokesman for the European automakers group ACEA. “But from a technical point of view, the changes will be substantial.” To prevent the most common leg injury–broken tibia–engineers are looking at energy-absorbent materials for bumpers. Protecting against pedestrian head injuries is tougher. Engineers are considering a hood that pops up in an accident, putting padding under the hood and installing exterior airbags. U.S. regulators will be watching how effective the EU rules are. American streets may eventually be safer to walk, too.
