Deployable upper leg stiffener for pedestrian protection

A pedestrian safety system 10 for use with a motor vehicle includes a vehicle hood 12 movable between a closed position and a raised position wherein a leading edge 12A of the hood is raised relative to a front surface 16 of the vehicle to form a gap 32, and a leg stiffener 22 movable between a retracted position wherein it is beneath the hood when the hood is closed and a deployed position wherein the stiffener projects through the gap and is forward of the leading edge of the hood when the hood is raised. At least one actuator 24 mounted beneath the hood moves the stiffener between the retracted and deployed positions. A remote sensing system detects an impending collision with a pedestrian and triggers the raising of the hood and extension of the actuators. The actuator may be mountable to a radiator support structure of the vehicle.