What is a 5 mph bumper?

What is a 5 mph bumper? Five miles per hour is a benchmark, an impact speed at which bumpers could easily — but generally don't — prevent all but very minor cosmetic damage in barrier tests.

What speed are bumpers rated for?

NHTSA amended the bumper standard in May 1982, halving the front and rear crash test speeds for 1983 and newer car bumpers from 5 miles per hour (8 km/h) to 2.5 miles per hour (4 km/h), and the corner crash test speeds from 3 miles per hour (5 km/h) to 1.5 miles per hour (2 km/h).

When did 5 mph bumpers start?

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 215, "Exterior Protection," was initially effective on September 1, 1972, and imposed requirements which prohibited damage to specified safety-related components such as headlamps and fuel systems in a series of perpendicular barrier impacts, at 5 mph for front and 2.5 mph ...

How much impact can a front bumper take?

Today, standard passenger vehicle bumpers have a rigid reinforcing bar under the outer cover, with sections of compressible foam or plastic underneath. In the United States, passenger car bumpers must absorb a five mph impact from another vehicle with no damage to the car body.

What is considered the bumper?

Decades ago, a bumper was a solid metal component affixed to the front of a vehicle. But nowadays, that's not usually the case. While most people assume the bumper is the visible, front fascia of a modern car, it's actually a hidden structure behind the bumper cover.

Crash Test Results for Sedan Bumpers

What's the difference between a bumper and a fender?

Many people think that bumpers and fenders are the same part of the car. In actuality, the bumper is a plastic component that covers the front and back of your vehicle, while the fender is a metal structure that frames the wheel well.

Whats the difference between a bumper and a bumper cover?

A bumper is intended for function over form and isn't the most attractive part of any vehicle. That's where the bumper cover comes in. This component covers the bumper and bumper mounts. The front bumper cover supports the car's grille, while the rear bumper cover may include the license plate mounting area.

Can bumper cars cause whiplash?

Common injuries that can occur from bumper cars include: Broken bones, especially wrists. Back and neck injuries. Whiplash.

How do you tell if your bumper is damaged?

Is bumper damage frame damage?

Purpose of the Bumper

The bumper's purpose is to prevent damage to the car's frame and body in the event of a small collision.

What happened to the 5 mph bumper?

What happened to tougher bumper performance standards? In 1982, the federal government bowed to pressure from automakers and rolled back impact test requirements from 5 to 2.5 mph for 1983 and later model cars. The 2.5 mph standard also allows unlimited damage to the bumper and attachments.

Why did they stop putting bumpers on cars?

The primary reason why cars have no longer bumpers is due to the federal law that needs rear and front bumper to withstand the results of a lower speed with no or little damage to the car. The law however differs in various nations. Individuals often like a clean look with no rear or front bumpers.

What is the air dam?

Definition of air dam

: a device attached to the underside of the front of an automobile to improve stability, aerodynamic performance, and engine cooling by redirecting the flow of air.

What is a crush zone in a car?

Also known as a crush zone, a crumple zone is an area of a vehicle (usually located in the front and rear) that's designed to crumple or crush when hit with significant force.

What qualifies as a rear bumper?

Rear bumper means the structure designed to prevent a vehicle or object from under-riding the rear of another motor vehicle. See 393.86 of this title.

How do bumpers make cars safer?

The purpose of bumpers is to reduce or prevent physical damage to the front and rear of vehicles in low-speed crashes. By design, bumpers protect the hood, trunk, grille, fuel, exhaust, and cooling system. A bumper is a shield that is usually made of steel, aluminum, rubber, or plastic.

When should a bumper be replaced?

When does a bumper need to be replaced? When the damage on a vehicle's bumper is too severe, it must be taken to a body shop to be replaced. Damage like large dents, cracks and holes, and broken hooks and fasteners will require you to replace your bumper.

Should I repair my bumper or replace it?

If your bumper has a lot of scratches or chipped paint, you may want to replace the bumper, rather than repair it. If your bumper is scratched or scraped up, the bumper has to be sanded down to make it level. If the scratches are deep, they may need to be filled with a compound to even the surface.

What causes bumper damage?

Even so, a glancing blow can scrape the paint, crack the plastic, or leave a layer of the other car's paint on your bumper. More severe impacts will cause the bumper to split open, dent, or crumple inward. An impact can also damage the hooks that attach the bumper to your car.

Can u get whiplash at 5 mph?

Whilst whiplash can be sustained in both low speed (up to 5 MPH) and moderate to high speed collisions, it is likely that in moderate to high speed collisions additional injuries such as broken bones, head injuries and concussion may also be sustained.

How fast do you need to be hit to get whiplash?

You don't have to be driving fast to suffer whiplash. Some whiplash injuries happen when a car travels at speeds as low as 5 mph. Although whiplash is associated with driving, it can also be caused by sudden stops in roller coasters or other amusement park rides, by sports injuries, or by being punched or shaken.

How much force does it take to get whiplash?

The impact speed that is required to increase a car's velocity by 5 mph depends upon the mass of the vehicle that collides with the car, but studies have found that a 6 to 8 mph impact can be sufficient to produce whiplash injuries in some cases.

How much does a bumper cover cost?

Bumper Replacement Costs

According to Cost Helper, a new bumper for a passenger car can cost anywhere between $100 and $1,000. Installation and painting the new bumper can cost between $200 and $600.

Is a bumper cover necessary?

Hence, the modern bumper cover is necessary and serves some additional purposes. Typically molded and made in either plastic or fiberglass, bumper covers give your vehicle a more sleek and finished appearance. More importantly, the bumper cover protects your vehicle from the weather, road debris, and other elements.

Are bumpers plastic?

The vast majority of modern bumpers are made of plastic, a material that provides effective shock absorption while minimizing the vehicle's weight and cost.