Poorly packed roof boxes dangerous, insurance firm finds
Following recent crash tests conducted by Allianz Munich, it was demonstrated that poorly packed roof boxes can explode upon impact and spew their contents with the force of several tonnes. In effect, it becomes a cannon.
The video, which Allianz has released, shows how quickly a poorly loaded roof box can compound the potential injuries of a car crash. The test was conducted using a standard 380-litre roof box packed with skis and associated equipment.
“In a crash of 30 miles an hour, where the car suddenly goes from 30mph to 0 mph, the contents of the car roof box will retain the force of travelling at 30 miles per hour. Your car takes 3 seconds to stop when you brake at 30mph, but in a crash that time can shorten to .01 second meaning the force can be up to 150 times the force of gravity,” said Brendan Murphy, CEO, Allianz Ireland.
“A 380-litre box with a load capacity of 60kg, under 150 times the force of gravity can become a cannon and shoot out contents, which could add to injuries sustained during a car accident,” he added.
