Occupants of a car are protected by seat belts, air bags and dashboards devoid of sharp objects. A pedestrian's only defense generally is to get out of the way.
More than 4,000 people are killed and 70,000 injured each year in the United States when hit by motor vehicles. Typically they're struck in the legs and thrown onto the hood. Their bodies slide until their heads smash into the windshield-wiper arms, the windshield or both.
With U.S. regulators considering rules or incentives to make pedestrian accidents more survivable, Honda Motor Co. and Volvo Cars have led automakers in making design changes that bring safety advances to the outside of vehicles.