Vanishing plastic bumpers

Surely a minor parking nudge must now mean a costly visit to the paint shop?

My new Skoda has no rubber bump strips in the large body-coloured plastic bumpers. I observe that virtually no cars manufactured in the last two years have these fitted now. Is this:

a) some European Pedestrian Safety requirement
b) another victory for stylists over engineer
c) a victory for Body Repair paint shops
d) all three?

Surely a minor parking nudge, which used to require replacement of a cracked numberplate, must now mean a costly visit to the paint shop and even more insurance claims?

I hesitate to even mention the side-flashing LED’s in the periphery of the side mirrors – ditto, ditto.

David Cormack, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway

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