The Role of the Side of the Motor Vehicle in Crash Protection

Collision related injuries associated with the side of passenger vehicles are a major part of the price of motor vehicle accidents. Three methods for evaluating the crash-related safety characteristics of the sides of motor vehicles are examined. One method uses a full-scale crash test for the evaluation of performance. A second method uses subsystem, or component, tests and the third method relies on analytical procedures for the evaluation.

An outline of the steps in the development of each method is presented and the status of the development is discussed. Supporting information on the injury tolerance of the thorax, abdomen, head and pelvis is provided along with discussion of test devices, test procedures and vehicle modifications.