VC COMPAT - Improvements of vehicle crash compatibility through the development of crash test procedures (S0214/VE & S0215/VF)
Overview
Background & policy context:
Traffic-related accidents are still a major threat to life in the European Union. In 2004 there were 32 951 traffic accident deaths and 251 203 seriously injured casualties in the 15 member states of the EU, out of a population of 377 942 000. Of these road fatalities, 54% were car drivers or passengers, so there remains much potential benefit for improving car occupant safety. Following the introduction of EuroNCAP and the European Frontal and Side Impact Directives, it is widely recognised that improved vehicle crash compatibility offers the next greatest potential benefit for improving car occupant safety.
Moreover the European Commission has set a target for traffic fatalities to be reduced by 50% by 2010 (compared to 2000) and improving passenger car compatibility could be one major step towards that aim.
Objectives:
The ultimate aim of the project is to develop crash test procedures, which once implemented in regulatory and/or consumer testing will lead to reduction in the casualties in car to car and car to heavy truck impacts. The specific objectives are:
For car to car impact:
- to develop a set of test procedures with associated performance criteria to assess a car’s compatibility in frontal impacts;
- to perform an associated cost benefit analysis.
For car to truck impact:
- to develop test procedure(s) with associated performance criteria to assess energy absorbing front underrun protection systems for trucks;
- to provide guidelines for improvement of existing legislation on truck rear underrun protection;
- to perform associated cost benefit analyses.
Methodology:
Crash tests and analysis.
Share this page