Amusement Park Bumper Cars for Fun

Remember riding bumper cars when you were a kid? Actually, many fun-loving adults still make a beeline for the bumpers when they go to an amusement park! Well, they're called bumper cars for a reason: can you imagine what the ride would feel like without the protection of those shock-absorbing features? Ouch! Our grownup cars' bumpers perform a similar protective function, but in real-life situations they can actually save lives. Here is an overview of why bumpers matter.


When we think of automotive safety features, the usual suspects come immediately to mind: seat belts, anti-lock brakes, air bags, and so forth. But car enthusiasts know that good front and rear bumpers are just as important for safety!

The Function of a Bumper

Early automobiles featured extremely simple steel bumper bars that had little or no shock absorbing value. Today's bumpers are designed to absorb as much of the energy from a crash as possible while protecting the front or rear portions of the car's chassis. Unfortunately, they do little to protect passengers in the event of a high-speed collision, but they do protect people from impact force as well as the car body at lower speeds.

How Bumpers are Designed

Bumpers are definitely not one-size fits all. In order to perform optimally, they must fit a vehicle perfectly: that's why, if you need auto body repair, you should insist on a bumper specifically made according to your make and model's factory specs. Most reputable shops will order in bumpers direct from the automotive manufacturer.

Today's bumpers are constructed in three layers for maximum effectiveness. Here's what they're made of from the inside out:

--A reinforcement bar made from steel, fiberglass composite, aluminum or plastic

--The shock absorbing layer comes next and can either be made from plastic honeycomb or polypropylene foam. Both of these materials compress on contact, absorbing as much force as possible and stopping the momentum of the contact object.

--The outer layer is usually plastic, but it can also be made from a plastic/rubber combination or a more decorative material depending on the make and model of the car. There really is no purpose for the outer layer other than aesthetics: as with much else, it's what's inside that counts.

If you've been in an accident and your bumper is in need of repair, it's never a good idea to just "let it go" since the damage doesn't affect drivability. Drivers should never go without their bumpers' extra layer of protection, and need to contact their Utah auto body repair professional or a trusted mechanic in whichever state they live in.

Carolyn Ethington

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