A Side Impact Taxonomy for USA Field Data

An eleven-group taxonomy was created to classify real-world side crashes from the Crashworthiness Data System (CDS) component of the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS). Three steps were taken to develop the classification scheme: (1) side-impact towaway crashes were identified by examining 1987-2016 model year light passenger vehicles with Collision Deformation Classification (CDC) data from the 1997-2015 calendar years of NASS; (2) case reviews, engineering judgments, and categorization assessments were conducted on these data to produce the eleven-group taxonomy; and (3) taxonomic groups were reviewed relative to regulated crash test procedures. Two of the taxonomic groups were found to have the most frequent crash types, each contributing approximately 22% to the total, followed closely by a third taxonomic group contributing approximately 19%. This third-most frequent group was also the most highly represented crash type for vehicles with at least one seriously-injured occupant. The taxonomy provides a consistent way to categorize side impacts beyond that afforded by the CDC itself. Moreover, it provides the basis for potential future studies (e.g., more comprehensive crash and injury risk assessments and related countermeasure designs).