Abstract: A safety guard attached to and extending down from a body portion of a vehicle can pivot against a biasing force relative to the body portion if the safety guard engages an animate or inanimate object. In addition, the safety guard is mounted for vertical movement relative to the vehicle body and a support surface for the vehicle, with the vertical movement being selectively performed by an operator of the vehicle or automatically based on sensor inputs used to assess road and/or vehicle operating conditions.

Abstract: A safety guard is configured to extend below a body of a vehicle for engaging animate and inanimate objects in order to prevent the objects from going under the vehicle. A detection system is provided, including a plurality of sensors configured to sense objects about the vehicle, and a controller for analyzing for the possibility of at least an animate object going under the vehicle. The analysis can result in repositioning of the safety guard from a raised, retracted position during normal operation of the vehicle to a lowered, deployed position in establishing a physical barrier spaced from a road surface a distance which prevents animate objects from entering under the vehicle. The analysis can also result in the issuance of an audible or visual warning and/or the automatic control of at least one other vehicle control system.

Abstract: A safety guard attached to and extending down from a body portion of a vehicle can pivot against a biasing force relative to the body portion if the safety guard engages an animate or inanimate object. In addition, the safety guard is mounted for vertical movement relative to the vehicle body and a support surface for the vehicle, with the vertical movement being selectively performed by an operator of the vehicle or automatically based on sensor inputs used to assess road and/or vehicle operating conditions.

Abstract: A safety guard is configured to extend down from a body portion of a vehicle for engaging animate and inanimate objects in order to prevent the objects from going under the vehicle. A detection system is also provided, including a plurality of sensors configured to sense an impact experienced by the safety guard and a control unit for analyzing the impact. The analysis can result in various actions being taken, including issuance of an impact warning, an evaluation on the cause of the impact, an assessment on any operator negligence associated with the impact and/or a notification regarding a need to replace the safety guard due to the impact.

Abstract: A frontal safety guard which functions to prevent objects lying in the path of a vehicle, such as a school bus, from entering beneath the vehicle for safety purposes includes a central guard portion hingedly connected to the bumper such that the central guard portion can pivot, against a biasing force, relative to the bumper, and side extensions hingedly interconnected to and extending laterally from opposing end portions of the central guard portion such that the side extensions can pivot in unison with the central guard portion relative to the bumper and also individually pivot relative to both the bumper and the central guard portion.