A bumper is a bar attached to the front and rear parts of a car that absorbs impact if the vehicle collides with an obstacle. It is a specific type of a buffer (used on railway systems). Most modern bumpers are made of metal (such as steel or aluminum), fiberglass or plastic. In any case, the bumper is usually covered with a layer of plastic for decorative purposes.
Bumpers are usually designed to protect the body and other components of car on low speed (for example, when parking). The impact absorption is not enough to guarantee the safety of the passengers when riding at high speed. However, the use of flexible materials has allowed reduction of the risk of injury of pedestrians and bikers involved in a collision with a car.
An important factor regarding bumpers is its height from the road surface. A mismatch between the bumper heights of two vehicles can result in severe consequences if there is a collision. First of all, if a smaller vehicle slides under a larger one, the safety of the passengers is at risk. Even at low speeds serious injuries might occur, such as head trauma. Also, a height mismatch will probably lead to damage of the bodies of both vehicles; while the bumpers remain intact (the whole purpose of a bumper is lost in that case). Finally the bumper impact usually activates the airbags and other protection systems.
There are safety regulations that determine the maximum impact a bumper must take, without endangering the car’s safety systems. Usually, after low-speed collisions, the bumper can be repaired. However, if you had a serious accident and you have to replace the bumper, make sure that the new one complies with the safety regulations, like the Schlieckmann bumpers do. Schlieckmann bumpers are made of the best materials available that maximize your security and protect your car.