Offset Frontal Crash Research in Australia

The seat belt wearing rate in Australia is over 95% in the front seats. All new passenger cars will be required to comply with Australian Design Rule (ADR) 69 for full frontal impact occupant protection by 1996. ADR 69 has similar injury criteria to US FMVSS 208 except that the test is done with dummies restrained by the vehicle's lap sash seat belts. Vehicle manufacturers have indicated that the majority of passenger cars will be fitted with at least driver's side airbags to demonstrate compliance. The two largest selling Australian family cars are now fitted with driver's side airbags as standard equipment.

This paper reports on a series of offset crash tests in support of the work being done by the European Experimental Vehicle Committee to develop a harmonised offset frontal crash test procedure to address non-full frontal crashes.

There is a need for a full frontal rigid barrier crash test in addition to the offset deformable barrier test requirement.