A 'soft' car bonnet which folds inwards on impact could save thousands of lives every year on Britain's roads, it was claimed today.
Scientists are developing an 'aluminium mechanical energy absorber' within a sheet of metal which collapses inwards.
The new technology is expected to substantially reduce the number of cyclists and pedestrians killed or seriously injured in road collisions.
A major car manufacturer is already said to be keen on adopting the technology in their vehicles.
The 'pedestrian friendly bonnet' is being developed by scientists at impact absorption specialists Cellbond in collaboration with colleagues at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.
Professor Hassan Shirvani, of Anglia Ruskin University, said the pioneering design could reduce head trauma by 60 per cent for those hit by cars.
'During an impact the pedestrian exerts a dynamic force on the car bonnet,' he said.
'If the kinetic energy of the impact is not absorbed the bonnet will exert equal amount of the force that impacts it, causing injury.
'This Cellbond design reduced the "head impact criteria" by 50 to 60 per cent, hence the energy is absorbed in the collapsing structure.'
'The idea is to have every new car fitted with these bonnets,' he added.
'We have got a major and very prestigious car manufacturer that is very interested but I cannot name them.'
A spokesman for the Cambridge Cycling Campaign said: 'Anything that reduces the injury caused to vulnerable road users is a good thing.
'But it seems likely this would be an expensive method, and there are many tried and tested ways of reducing injury that could be introduced first.
'Reducing speeds on residential and shopping streets from 30mph to 20mph is a far easier way - and less costly - to more than halve the kinetic energy of such impacts.'
Pedestrians and cyclists account for 20 per cent of all traffic fatalities in Europe.
