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Brussels, Belgium April 11, 2013

Myrko Bellmann Volkmann & Rossbach/Germany

by Myrko Bellmann

Volkmann & Rossbach, Germany


Severity of tree accident

• Tree accidents are amongst the most severe accidents than happen on roads

• Does a driver loose control over his vehicle, obstacles next to the road are hit with a comparatively high terminal velocity

• Cars are not developed for impacts on rigid obstacles


Impact Speed on single obstacles

Deviation Angle

Distance to obstacle (Initial Speed 100km/h)

2 m 4m 6m 8m

8° 99 km/h 98 km/h 96 km/h 85 km/h

15° 99 km/h 99 km/h 98 km/h 98 km/h


Common Crash Test Layouts


Tree Crash Test

• Initial Speed 44,8 km/h• Impact Speed 39,9 km/h• Deceleration 98 g• Dummy strain:

thorax s=39 mmpelvis a3ms=47,63 ghead a3ms=37 gneck Mby=27 Nm

• Pillar intrusion 415 mm


Tree Accidents in Germany

• Tree accident data seperatly processed since 1995

• In 2011, tree accidents were responsible for approx. 8% of all serious injuries and 20% of all fatalities in road accidents


Fatalities in extra‐urban areas

• On rural roads, nearlyone third off all fatalities happen after an impact with a tree


Total Tree Fatalities


Esimated/Average Accident Cost

Estimated Costs of Injuries (per Person)

Fatality 1.035.165 €

Serious Injuries 110.506 €

Other Injuries 4.403 €

Average Property Damages (per Accident)

Fatal Accident 40.242 €

Accident with serious injury 19.436 €

Accident with slight injury 12.775 €

Heavy accident with propertydamage only 19.035 €


Numbers of Tree Accidents

Rural Road Accidents 1995

SeriousProperty Damage

Personsinjured

Personskilled

Total

Total Accidents 130.732 388.003 9.454 518.735

Impact Obstacle 41.328 69.667 5.763 116.758

Impact Tree 7.824 24.916 2.284 35.024

Total Costs of Tree AccidentsSerious Property Damage 148.929.840 €Injuries 3.237.634.872€Fatalities 2.364.316.860 €

TOTAL 5.842.794.300 €


Possible measuresThe German Insurance Research Group (GDV) as well as the German Automobilist Association (ADAC) recommend three possible measures to reduce therisk of tree crashes:• Reduction of Speed Limits (German standard limt:

100 km/h) • Free space on road sides (by avoiding to plant new

tree or by cutting existing trees)• Install Crash Barriers at critical spots


Pillar Crash Test without/with Crash Barrier


Tree Crash Test with Crash Barrier

• Initial Speed 44,8 km/h• Impact Speed 40 km/h• Deceleration 19,7g• Dummy strain:

thorax s=11,8 mmpelvis a3ms=4,77 ghead a3ms=29 gneck Mby=4,4 Nm

• Pillar intrusion: none

Brussels, Belgium April 11, 2013

brussels, belgium april 11, 2013rrs.erf.be › images › 25._myrko_bellmann.pdf · microsoft...

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