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Bumper Performance Levels and Insurance Loss Experience
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English
Abstract
Since the 1973 model year minimum levels of new car bumper performance have been specified by federal standards. Beginning with the 1974 model year, the safety bumper standard required that bumpers protect safety related equipment in 5 mph front-and rear-into-barrier tests. This standard was superceded in the 1979 model year by the no-damage standard which restricted dollar damage in the same tests. For 1983 and later models the barrier test speed requirements of the no-damage standard were reduced to 2.5 mph.
There is convincing evidence from crash tests and insurance data from real world crashes that the federal 5 mph bumper standards substantially reduced much of the unnecessary damage that was occurring in low speed crashes because the performance of pre-standard bumpers was so poor. There is a real danger that this progress will be eroded, however, due to the weakening of the no-damage standard. The adoption of inferior bumpers by Honda on their 1983 models has already produced substantial increases in the collision coverage insurance losses for these cars.
Authors
Citation
O'Neill, B., "Bumper Performance Levels and Insurance Loss Experience," SAE Technical Paper 840224, 1984, https://doi.org/10.4271/840224.Also In
References
- Highway Loss Data Institute An Assessment of the Effects of the Federal Safety Bumper Standard on the Losses for 1972 Through 1978 Models. Research Report HLDI A-12 June 1980
- State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. letter to Docket 73-19, Notice 25, 086 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration April 26 1979
- Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “Proposed Amendment to Bumper Requirements” Part 581, Bumper Standard, Docket No. 73-19, Notice 4, Federal Register 40 1 10 12 January 2 1975
- Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Announcement of Public Meeting, Part 581, Bumper Standard, Docket No. 73-19, Notice 27 Federal Register 46 190 October 1 1981
- Center for Auto Safety, et al., v. Peck, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Nos. 31-1782, 82-1783, 83-1164 (argued 12/5/83)
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Report on Bumpers March 1983
- Highway Loss Data Institute The Highway Loss Data Institute 1981
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, letter to Docket No. 73-19; Notice 29 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration December 10 1982
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Weaker Bumpers Allow Heavy Damage,” Status Report 18 3 1 6 March 1 1983
- Highway Loss Data Institute Collision Loss Bulletin 6 4 December 1983
- Opinion Research Corporation The Amount of Protection Against Damage That New Car Bumpers Should Provide, A National Survey of Car Owners' Opinions, Conducted for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety June 1982