Sensors Save "Emily"

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

Hood ornaments on vehicles are almost a thing of the past. The reason for this is simple: they pose a safety risk in the event of an accident. With Rolls-Royce and Jaguar things are different.

In addition to brand emblems, hood ornaments were important identifying features of vehicle manufacturers in the past. The fact that they have almost completely disappeared today has to do with the issue of safety, explains TÜV Nord in Hanover.

Risk of injury from figures

In accidents with pedestrians, the figures often caused serious injuries. In Great Britain they were therefore already banned in the 1960s. In 1974, this was regulated in the EU by the "Directive on protruding outer edges".

Nowadays, hood ornaments are practically only installed on cars in the upper price range, where the costs of the necessary elaborate constructions are not so significant. The best-known examples are the "Emily" from Rolls-Royce or the Jaguar from the car brand of the same name. According to the TÜV, the figure of the exclusive vehicle types is equipped with sensors so that when touched it automatically sinks into the bonnet.

At Mercedes, the star can be folded down for safety reasons. Because it cannot be sunk, however, it often falls victim to theft or vandalism. (dpa)