European Proposal for a Side Impact Crash Test Procedure

The European Experimental Vehicle Committee which includes representatives of 6 European Countries (Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom) set up in 1980 a working group to propose on the basis of accidents studies and of test procedures evaluations, a standard test for side impact. Report of this working group, which is summarised here, analyzes the crash configurations and consequences of side impact accidents, discuss test methods for side impact, makes proposal for a standard side impact test using a mobile deformable barrier, and compares the characteristics of this barrier with other existing barriers.