the presence at the front of the vehicle of either: a special front underrun protection device; or body work, chassis parts or other components, such that by virtue of their shape and characteristics, these elements can be regarded as fulfilling the function of the front underrun protection device ...
In 1989, approximately 700 passenger car and light truck fatalities were due to side and rear impacts with large trucks. Small vehicles involved in side- and rear- crashes with large trucks have much higher than average frequency of serious physical injury. The front ends of passenger vehicles often slide underneath the cargo units of large trucks; in some cases, the passenger compartment is sheared off. Passenger vehicles are also subject to front underride of large trucks as well as rear override by large trucks; both situations result in serious injuries and fatalities to occupants of the passenger vehicles. Truck underride and override guards can substantially mitigate the severity of passenger vehicles-large truck crashes.
