Nudge bars are designed to shield your vehicle if it is involved in a collision with other road users or objects. However, if a nudge bar is not installed properly, they can actually increase the risk of injury posed to you, your passengers and other pedestrians. Below is a short guide containing three tops tips which will help you to safely installing a nudge bar on your car.

Install the nudge bars at a low height

Many modern cars are designed to be as low to the ground as possible. The reduced clearance helps to lower the vehicle's centre of gravity leading to improved stability. A car which is low to the ground can also help to reduce the severity of any injuries suffered by pedestrians who are struck by the vehicle, as it greatly reduces the risk of head, pelvic and spinal damage. 

However, installing a nudge bar can significantly raise the point at which a pedestrian would come into contact with your car, increasing the risk of serious injury to the pelvis, head and spine. When installing a nudge bar, you should keep it at a low height, ideally no higher than the vehicle's bumper.

Consider if nudge bars are comparable with airbags

When the manufacturer installs airbags on a car, they do so with precision, testing different scenarios and programming the onboard computer and other sensors to deploy the airbags at the ideal time. However, installing a nudge bar could impact the safe operation of your airbag protection system. A nudge bar is designed to absorb some of the shock created by an accident, which means that a collision which would usually trigger the deployment of the airbags may no longer do so.

To ensure that the nudge bars do not have an adverse effect on your car's airbag system, you should have them fitted by a qualified mechanic. The mechanic will be able to ensure that the nudge bars are correctly positioned so they do not affect the airbags.

Check your vision

If you install the wrong size or type of nudge bar, it cab reduce your ability to see over the top of your vehicle's bonnet. Before installing a nudge bar, you should check with an auto shop that it is the right type for your car. If you would like further advice about fitting a nudge bar to your vehicle, you should contact an auto shop near you.