CRASH TESTS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE ACTUAL ACCIDENT OCCURRENCE

Current consensus about crash tests implies that, for verification of self-protection of a vehicle or its occupants, at least three full siz e tests with the following specifications are necessary: (1) frontal i mpact against a rigid, non-moving 0-degree-barrier with 100% overlap; (2) frontal offset impact against a rigid, non-moving 15-degrees-barri er with 50% overlap (impact speed between 50 and 55 km h-1); (3) side impact of a moving deformable barrier; preferably according to EEVC-me thod (impact speed 50 km h-1). From the social general view it is not sufficient to test only the self-protection of the vehicle and to give most importance to the front of the vehicle. The other factors of pas sive safety, partner protection and compatibility, respectively, have to be included, as two thirds of the cost of injuries originates from car-to-car accidents, and only one third from vehicle collisions again st fixed objects. It follows that at least one additional test of comp atibility has to be added to those mentioned above. It has to be inves tigated whether this compatibility test could be a frontal impact agai nst a controllably deformable barrier and could substitute one or even two of the first-mentioned tests.