Comparison of EuroNCAP assessments with injury causation in accidents

In this analysis, body-region injury-risk ratings determined for consumers by EuroNCAP are examined from the perspective of real contemporary accidents. The aim is to compare the real-life experience of various occupants with the objective and subjective conclusions that are presented by EuroNCAP. The accident sample, of several car models, is taken from the Cooperative Crash Injury Study (CCIS), and is comprised of crashes similar to the impact tests. CCIS is the in-depth project that analyses a sample of severe car accidents and provides the foundation of much of the UK's secondary car-safety research program. The European New Car Assessment Program (EuroNCAP) has had a significant influence on the way that cars are designed. Objective measurements from frontal and side impact tests of each vehicle are augmented by assessments based on real-world accident investigation experience.

Using real-world car accidents that are as similar as possible to the EuroNCAP impact tests, detailed accident cases are analyzed to determine the injuries to the occupants; the body-region severities; the causes of the injuries; and the global patterns of damage to the vehicle.