Analysis of frontal crash safety performance of passenger cars, light trucks and vans and an outline of future research requirements

Hackney, James R.; Hollowell, William T.; Cohen, Daniel S.

Since 1979, almost three hundred vehicle crash tests have been conducted in the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Parameters from the crash tests of the vehicles are presented. Analysis of these parameters relative to the frontal crash safety are performed. The studies are conducted with fleet weighted populations and include both passenger cars and light trucks and vans. Comparisons of vehicle performance are made which support the feasibility of potentially improved safety levels within the vehicle.

Based on the potential for improved safety and on recent projections of fatalities and injuries by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an outline of possible future frontal crashworthiness research is presented.

Year

Entry

1985

Hackney J, Ellyson C. A review of the effects of belt systems, steering assemblies, and structural design on the safety performance of vehicles in the new car assessment program. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). July 1-4, 1985; Oxford, England.380-413. SAE 856057.

1982

Hackney J, Quarles V. The New Car Assessment Program: status and effect. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). November 1-4, 1982; Kyoto, Japan.809-824.

Year

Entry

1993

Planath I, Norin H, Nilsson S. Severe frontal collisions with partial overlap: significance, test methods and car design. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. March 1-5, 1993; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 930636.

1991

Hackney JR. The effects of FMVSS No. 208 and NCAP on safety as determined from crash test results. In: Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). November 4-7, 1991; Paris, France.993-1021.

1991

Hollowell WT, Frey FJ. A study of the safety performance of production vehicles equipped with driver air bags in the NHTSA test programs. In: Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). November 4-7, 1991; Paris, France.1047-1054.

1991

Ragland C, Dalrymple G. Overlap car-to-car tests compared to car-to-half barrier and car-to-full barrier tests. In: Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). November 4-7, 1991; Paris, France.1180-1186.