Development of assessment and performance criteria for vehicle crashworthiness

The VC-Compat project will develop a suite of crash test procedures leading to improved vehicle crash compatibility. Studies have suggested that improved compatibility could reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities by as much as a third in accidents where a car collides with another vehicle. It is also expected that the resulting structural improvements will increase protection in many single-vehicle accidents. In regards to car-to-truck collisions, an EEVC study indicates a 20-30% reduction in fatalities where the trucks equipped with a rigid or energy absorbing under-run device.
The following tasks are to be accomplished in this project. Regarding car-to-car impact: First to draw up a suite of draft test procedures and associated performance criteria for car-to-car impacts. Secondly to build a framework for a crash compatibility rating system. Thirdly to improve the understanding for vehicle crash compatibility with general recommendations for the design of compatible cars. Regarding car-to-truck impact: First to set up test procedures and associated performance criteria to assess and control truck frontal structures for frontal impact compatibility with cars. Secondly identify suggestions for improving rear and side under-run safety. An overall goal is an indication of the benefits and costs of improved compatibility for both car-to-car and car-to-truck.