The present demand on self protection and insurance test is increasing the local strength and global force deformation of all cars. Unfortunately, the ratio is not the same, due to the different masses:​ The design of a large car makes it stiffer than a small one in order to compensate the mass. Furthermore, the current frontal offset test is more severe for heavy vehicles because of the specific barrier used. Due to this self protection trend, compatibility requirements are more and more difficult to achieve.

Moreover, it is yet required to improve light cars compartment’s strength without increasing heavy cars’ one and to limit vehicle front units' aggressiveness. In other words, it is necessary to assess the possibility to check and improve partner protection with regards to self-protection. To achieve this new requirement, an amendment of ECE R94 test procedure, based on PDB barrier, was proposed in order to check both parts of compatibility (structural interactions -partner- and compartment strength -self- ), and is still being studied.

To validate and compare this approach with other offset procedures, many tests have been performed with different cars from European market (light and heavy, old and new generation, left and right hand drive) in different test configurations (current R94 at 56 km/h, possible future R94 at 60 km/h suggested by EEVC WG16 and PDB protocol at 60 km/h).

Based on the tests results, this paper describes in details:​

• the comparison of different offset barrier tests
• the validation of PDB test protocol aiming to check self and partner protection
• the possibility to generate constant severity for all cars (same EES)
• the possibility to change the current frontal barrier
• the possibility to assess partner protection and self protection