Development of Motor Vehicle Handling Performance Requirements

The discussion presented in this paper addresses the difficulties associated with defining safe motor vehicle handling performance. Specific problems relating to the vehicle, the driver, and the environment are highlighted. Research activities performed and anticipated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are evaluated in terms of a more fundamental approach to a general formulation of the vehicle handling problem.

The aim of these investigations is to identify those vehicles that become overinvolved in highway accidents and, together with other evaluation criteria on vehicle handling, will clearly indicate whether these vehicles exhibit performance boundaries which are beyond the capabilities of the typical driver.