Press-Release

Safe Liner most convincing - live at Stern TV

Werlte, April 2001 - It was a most convincing impression that the Safe Liner left on the occasion of its spectacular appearance in front of 3.59 million tv viewers in the popular tv show 'Stern TV' on RTL by the end of March.

For the first time in the history of the Cologne broadcasting station, crash tests between two passenger cars and two articulated trains were shown live on tv. "We have never went through so much work and expenditure for our show", announced Günther Jauch - presenter of the show - the crash tests.

Preparations took the whole day in order to simulate and practise the typical accident at crossings on the parking area of the broadcasting station in Köln-Hürth. The preparation was realised by the inventor of the space frame which is also installed in the Safe Liner - the accident researcher Karl-Heinz Schimmelpfennig and his team of four. Two steel ropes fixed to the ground served as guide for the driverless Polos, two 150 meters long ropes were connected between the guiding vehicle and both Polos via deflection pulleys fixed to fork lift trucks. The articulated trains were adjusted accordingly. While the first passenger vehicle at 51 km/h broke right through the lateral collision guard of the conventional train appearing at the other side with completely shaved off roof, the second Polo - going at the same speed - bounced off from the side of the hardly damaged Safe Liner suffering from just a slightly smashed-in radiator. The doors of the Polo still opened; a person in the crash vehicle would probably have been able to get out of the car right after the accident with just slight injuries.

This direct comparison was very convincing all along the line: which was also confirmed by the visibly impressed presenter Günther Jauch: "As we could see - the Safe Liner can save lifes." (see www.krone.de)

Spectacular live crash test - passenger vehicle against articulated train in stern tv. The Safe Liner by Krone proved to be convincing all along the line. Krone picture

The picture is available in digital format and may be requested under:

martina.schulz@krone.de