caravancruise.ie – Bailey of Bristol’s drive on vehicle safety continues with further motorhome simulated crash testing

Bailey of Bristol’s drive on vehicle safety continues with further motorhome simulated crash testing

Dec 01, 2013 News 0

Bailey of Bristol’s drive on vehicle safety continues with further motorhome simulated crash testing

Bailey of Bristol’s drive on vehicle safety continues with further motorhome simulated crash testing
Bailey of Bristol has continued its drive on vehicle safety with further simulated motorhome crash testing at the Millbrook Proving Ground.

The company began its investigations into this aspect of product design in March 2011 and has subsequently completed a two year motorhome crash test simulation programme at the internationally renowned Millbrook Proving Ground. This pioneering research has allowed Bailey to make significant enhancements to the motorhome bodyshell and furniture to help improve overall vehicle safety for both driver and passengers.

With the recent introduction of the new Approach Autograph and Approach Compact motorhome ranges Bailey took the decision to return to Millbrook for further accelerated life and crash test simulations as part of their on-going product validation programme. The main aim of the latter this time round was to assess the performance of the innovative new ceiling mounted drop down bed fitted to the Autograph 765 and Compact 540 models in a collision. As before the examination was carried out on the HyGe Sled facilities at Millbrook in a 30 mph (or 50 kmph) frontal impact test on a habitation area cell, containing the dedicated rear passenger seating area, mounted on a dummy cab and chassis.

The results of the test were very positive with the raised bed remaining in-situ and experiencing minimal lateral and vertical movement following impact, as demonstrated in the original test video footage on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugzGVApou4c&feature=c4-overview&list=UUtRzg6OxzrrlYyeZBuKNNzA

Safety considerations are of paramount importance in any new motorhome and Bailey has always given significant emphasis to this aspect of product design. As a result key features, such as an ABS braking system, high performance Michelin tyres plus twin cab airbags have been specified as standard in all models, whilst fully approved three-point seatbelts and frames are fitted to every dedicated rear passenger seat.

This combined with the enhanced protection provided by the high performance Alu-Tech bodyshell and the re-enforced habitation area furniture set Bailey motorhomes apart from other products in terms of vehicle safety.

For full information on the new Bailey Approach Autograph and Approach Compact ranges, including a 360 degree product tour of every model, please visit www.baileyofbristol.co.uk

The development of the original Alu-Tech construction vehicles began at Millbrook in 2008 and since then Bailey has been back to the facility every year to carry out further accelerated life, thermal chamber and crash simulation testing on its caravans and motorhomes. This coupled with supplementary in-house testing and owner feedback from the 25,000+ Alu-Tech leisure vehicles currently in use has allowed the company to make numerous in-build enhancements to its products during their lifespan to further improve their performance.

As a result of this policy our caravans and motorhomes are some of the best engineered and the most technically advanced products on the market and ones which provide our customers with real and tangible benefits of ownership.