Primary safety is briefly defined using an accident model.
The difficulties to evaluate the efficiency of active safety devices using only accidents statistics are recalled and a method based on accident causation statistics is proposed.
It is explained how main accident scenarios are used to defined handling test procedures. Examples are given , some of them are adaptation of ISO test procedures with specific initial conditions.
It is then explained why during emergency situations the vehicle should be stable and should not scare the driver. A method to derive metrics to evaluate objectively these former qualities is shown. The improvement introduced by specific safety devices can be measured and the qualities of a car considered as a system as well.
Some idea to improve this method in the future (new tests procedures and/or new metrics) are listed.