The German government has called on the EU to ban metal bull-bars on the front of off-road and sport utility vehiciles (SUVs).
A transport ministry spokesman said the metal bull bars are a danger to pedestrians.
"This kind of nonsense has no place on the road and poses a threat to weaker road-users such as pedestrians, children and cyclists," he said.
Bull-bars are front guards which cover the grille of an SUV or 4x4 and are designed to protect the front of the car from the hazards of driving off-road on open terrain.
"Tests show that bull-bars made out of less robust material or plastic are not as dangerous, so we want a ruling on metal bull-bars only," he said.
"Even at 20 kilometres per hour (12.5 mph), tests show that vehicles with these bull-bars can mortally injure children, compared to 40 kph (25 mph) with normal vehicles."
Each year 9,000 pedestrians and cyclists are killed across the EU and a further 200,000 injured in accidents involving cars.
- (Reuters)