In order to test the crash performance of roadside obstacles without using real cars a 1 000 kg impact sled with a collapsible front end was developed. An outdoor test facility capable of having the.sled impacting different objects at speeds up to 150 km/h has also been built. The test method has been used on lightpoles, roadsigns and catch-fence systems. The performance of the systems is evaluated by using a Risk factor based on the accelerations on the sled. New concepts of extremely yielding poles have been tested with good results. Arresting nets for motor racing tracks have been found to be inadequate.