European and American side impact research efforts are directed toward the realization of further increases in existing levels of passive safety. Because side impact accident experience here and abroad exhibits many similarities, governments of the European community and the United States should cooperate and agree on a common test procedure including common test devices and test parameters.

Within this context, Volkwagen studied the deformable side impact barriers presently under discussion in the United States and Europe. The results of this comparative study are presented. In addition to this comparison, the comparative evaluations of dummies and human subjects by the German Research Association for Automobile Technology (Forschungsvereinigung Automobiltechnik-(FAT) as well as the Thoracic Trauma Index (TTI) developed by NHTSA are discussed.

With these investigations, Volkswagen demonstrates that the European CCMC deformable element mounted on the chassis of the NHTSA crabbed barrier constitutes a valuable basis for further research efforts with respect to a common European and American test device for 90° lateral impact testing that cannot be ignored.

The comparison of loads and kinematics of human subjects and dummies examined demonstrates that the biofidelity of dummies must be improved to be suitable as a test device for lateral impact testing. Because of the present lack of a suitable side impact dummy and absence of correlation between dummy loadings and occupant injury, research activities must continue so as to be able to assess the effectiveness of vehicle measures in realworld impacts.