Other Issues

Crush Cans
Vehicle manufacturers fit sacrificial energy absorbing crush initiators, often called crush cans, due to their relative size and shape. These are designed to absorb the forces of a crash by crushing in a controlled manner saving other more valuable components. In some vehicles, they do deploy and bend and are effective in controlling vehicle damage. However, in many instances, in real world crashes, these crush cans not only do not crush but are so stiff that they are the items that create damage to the partner vehicle.


Spare Wheel Carriers
The spare wheel carriers on many cars are poorly sited and lead to very high levels of damage and repair costs. In this crash, much of the damage to the struck car is created by this overhanging spare wheel carrier that contacts the bonnet and damages other costly frontal components.

Spare wheel carriers also cause other problems. Often when reversing, spare wheel carriers block vision and often contact a wall or other solid item. This can lead to extensive damage to the rear door, spare wheel and rear tailgate glass. This sort of damage can cost several thousand pounds to repair.