The following text was taken from PeoplePanel by Dawes Highway Safety:
PeoplePanel® is a UK innovation designed to upgrade open-rail type side guard systems on almost any HGV. Recognised by the insurance industry because of its proven ability to reduce risk, PeoplePanel® protects people from unnecessary harm and mitigates injuries in the unfortunate event of a collision with a large vehicle.
Since standard side guards were mandated on new vehicles in the UK, the fatality rate for pedestrians hit by the side of a truck dropped by 20% while the fatality rate for cyclists in similar collisions fell by 61%. Extensive research shows that a properly manufactured and impact-tested flat panel side guard can significantly reduce that fatality figure which is why PeoplePanels® are becoming widely adopted as the new industry standard.