Why the calculated NHTSA injury risk for an IIHS crash test is not the end all be all

<div style="text-align: justify;"> I have looked at 531 IIHS moderate overlap frontal offset tests, and put the injury data into a calculator that puts out the risk of AIS 3+ injury, as based on NHTSA's 2011-present frontal rating calculation. While the better the IIHS rating meant on average a lower injury risk, the NHTSA crash test injury formula was not designed specifically for the IIHS test.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sometimes, the formula can provide useful information. For instance, vehicles that had no problems (all six factors rated Good) had injury risks from 7.1% to 26.0%. In these instances, the lower the injury risk, the less likely injuries will probably be and the fewer people will probably get them. Keep in mind that these injury risks are strictly for head, neck, chest, and femurs; pretty much everything except for lower legs.</div>

Why the calculated NHTSA injury risk for an IIHS crash test is not the end all be all

I have looked at 531 IIHS moderate overlap frontal offset tests, and put the injury data into a calculator that puts out the risk of AIS 3+...

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Trends in HIC, Chest G and injury risk, NHTSA crash tests, 1979-2010

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DCbG6iVLNeCOJfhXYtZbpwPJeSF8pcmlJOth5fck4QZlvbLdizPJ8AJljiMoYjg2L1MkVkPk4dz5AQcsXEFmDWQmC1mjHmgGd2OCvVC5R1iW6-tWV7WvKGUDW5fiXB9l9TozBwk3eXD5/s1600/charts+for+csd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DCbG6iVLNeCOJfhXYtZbpwPJeSF8pcmlJOth5fck4QZlvbLdizPJ8AJljiMoYjg2L1MkVkPk4dz5AQcsXEFmDWQmC1mjHmgGd2OCvVC5R1iW6-tWV7WvKGUDW5fiXB9l9TozBwk3eXD5/s1600/charts+for+csd.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The top chart shows average HIC for each model year of NHTSA crash testing between 1979 and 2010. The improvement is crystal clear, but there are some notes. The early years, specifically 1981-1984, showed a sharp drop in average HIC values for the tests as car companies strove to compete with each other on safety. 1985 saw a spike in HIC, especially for the driver; a large number of light trucks (pickups, SUVs, and vans) were tested this year, and their lower safety standards at the time skewed the results. The second major drop occurred from 1988-1994 for drivers, due chiefly to air bags. The introduction of passenger air bags did not result in a sudden drop in HICs, but gradual improvement continued. HIC improvement was gradual during the 1995-2004 period, followed by a near leveling out from 2005-2010. The leveling out of good results led to the replacement of this test.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> At the very beginning of the test program, passenger HICs were slightly higher, on average; during the 1980s, driver HICs were often significantly higher, likely due to improved seat belt systems and better structures but the continuance of steering column problems. Air bags briefly gave driver HICs the advantage, but passenger air bags caused passenger HICs to become lower again during the 1995-2002 period. Less aggressive driver airbags gave driver HICs the advantage from 2003-2010.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Chest measures aren't quite as clear cut. The sharp 1981-1982 drop was likely due to improved structures and seat belts, but chest measures rose modestly, plateauing during the 1985-1999 period for drivers, despite the introduction of air bags. Passenger chest measures rose during the 1986-1996 period, despite the widespread introduction of air bags during this time period. A possible explanation is that early air bags were "firmer" and more aggressive than today's airbags, and seat belt pretensioners and load limiters came along in the late 1990s. Chest measures fell during the 2000-2004 period, but leveled out from 2005-2010.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Injury measures is another odd one. I took the average HIC and Chest G for each side for each model year, and translated that into the injury risk for the "average" vehicle. <b>Your vehicle may vary. </b></div>

Trends in HIC, Chest G and injury risk, NHTSA crash tests, 1979-2010

The top chart shows average HIC for each model year of NHTSA crash testing between 1979 and 2010. The improvement is crystal clear, but t...

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NHTSA Testing 1979-2010: Cars vs. Trucks, Vans, and SUVs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMMZIuZzTnTjjt9AYHGUgMbH5z6WnSKlgg1T2O2khEx6SstRdOycyCNVzYuZJuKgHZxOdIvF8mwmRq-mxJVA5U9tp5E8e3ZZP_NRWfBbLg9k2bpcxlyq2aW46tSxeXNj95F3cD-ykcxgx/s1600/eddy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMMZIuZzTnTjjt9AYHGUgMbH5z6WnSKlgg1T2O2khEx6SstRdOycyCNVzYuZJuKgHZxOdIvF8mwmRq-mxJVA5U9tp5E8e3ZZP_NRWfBbLg9k2bpcxlyq2aW46tSxeXNj95F3cD-ykcxgx/s1600/eddy.png" width="486" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This is a chart of average HIC (head injury criterion) for cars and LTVs (a category encompassing pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs) for each testing year between 1979 and 2010. Before 1983, no LTVs were tested by NHTSA. Interesting trends emerge. A limited number of LTVs were tested each year during the early years; the number of LTVs tested increased as the market share and model range increased.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Performance for LTVs was bad in the 1980s and early 1990s. Due to the limited number (typically 12 or fewer) tested during these years, results vary wildly from year to year, but it is still clear that LTVs lagged their car counterparts badly. (1984 was a "fluke" year). Starting in 1992, the gap began to close, but LTVs still lagged by a noticeable - if not severe - margin through 2000. Around 2001, LTV HICs reached levels near that of cars.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVdl-GYDVih01d5CVvpvjHpmW0HeHgQFCQzLIbwT5COMNd7d1KRqBP_MJIMZTpDQCYA7mexIXZ4vWMCdZ_OPwOdCaz9RbqF3L0GEPT4pHLddVKc-Tyssf3OYTTSn34sI78_fANbeRqXzR/s1600/ed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVdl-GYDVih01d5CVvpvjHpmW0HeHgQFCQzLIbwT5COMNd7d1KRqBP_MJIMZTpDQCYA7mexIXZ4vWMCdZ_OPwOdCaz9RbqF3L0GEPT4pHLddVKc-Tyssf3OYTTSn34sI78_fANbeRqXzR/s1600/ed.png" width="542" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  Chest G's here are pretty cut and dry - bad in the 1980s, pretty close to that of cars from 1994 on.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEXOTZrNNXODKuBKFIDlI-2qtXYYinnrFfecRSNfyDlgxV6sjjLru7n-H1aealD22qajvrSbGBbFBwQNW2CHPsgcigSe_OZh3at0ena7w7-vS3_67fgV_W9ziB6UwcswKlIxNgpPOnm6E/s1600/edd.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEXOTZrNNXODKuBKFIDlI-2qtXYYinnrFfecRSNfyDlgxV6sjjLru7n-H1aealD22qajvrSbGBbFBwQNW2CHPsgcigSe_OZh3at0ena7w7-vS3_67fgV_W9ziB6UwcswKlIxNgpPOnm6E/s1600/edd.png" width="542" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This is the most important chart - average injury risk. Note that this chart is not created by taking the average risk of each vehicle, but rather by taking the average HIC and Chest G for each model year and finding the risk for that. For instance, 1980 passengers in cars had an average HIC of 1,364 and chest G of 51. The risk of severe injury for that HIC and chest G is 51%.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cars started at a bad level - about 50% risk for both driver and passenger - when testing began in 1979. When LTV testing started in 1983, their average risk was even worse than cars had been four years earlier. By 1983, with cars having improved dramatically from their starting point, the gap was even more critical. While passenger risk had a major drop, driver risk simply "bounced around" in the 40-77% range between 1983 and 1991. By 1991, the average LTV was no safer for a driver than a 1979 car in this collision scenario.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Risk for both occupants dropped precipitously for LTVs between 1992 and 1994, and by the mid 1990s LTV passengers had reached near parity with car passengers - drivers were still doing moderately worse. The gap finally closed around 2001.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It's clear that there was once a major safety gap between cars and LTVs, and this gap narrowed and eventually closed. A major reason is safety standards - safety standards were significantly relaxed on LTVs until the 1990s. It's clear that once LTVs had to meet the same safety standards as cars, their performance approached that of cars. The market share of LTVs grew immensely. In the 1980s, only about 20% of models tested were LTVs; by the 2000s, over half were. Minivans and crossover SUVs were introduced during this time period and became very popular, while traditional SUV popularity greatly increased. LTV marketing and purposes changed greatly between 1983 and 2010. In 1983, most LTVs were considered utilitarian vehicles that did not compete with cars. In the intervening years, minivans were introduced and cut into the market share for full size vans, SUVs added more creature comforts and were marketed as passenger vehicles, and the crossover SUV arose. By 2010, most LTVs were not strictly "utilitarian" vehicles. They competed with cars. The family sedan had, in many instances, been replaced by the family minivan or SUV. Even crew cab trucks became used by some like cars with extra utility.</div>

NHTSA Testing 1979-2010: Cars vs. Trucks, Vans, and SUVs

This is a chart of average HIC (head injury criterion) for cars and LTVs (a category encompassing pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs) for each...

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NHTSA Trends, 1979-2010

<div style="text-align: justify;"> The next series of posts on CSD will focus on trends in the NHTSA crash test series between 1979-2010. There are currently 1,168 frontal crash tests that I know about between May 21, 1979 and January 20, 2010. This first post is on the test program in general, and trends over time. Later, we will be comparing cars to SUVs, trucks, and vans and imports to domestics. This posts has been made before, but there is lots of missing data that is now known, including six missing crash tests.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Threshold for likely serious injury is 1,000 HIC and/or 60 Chest G. Positions with less than these values "passed", and positions with a value exceeding these "failed".</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1979 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 1,256 HIC, 55 Chest G. Range 547-4,611 HIC, 38-93 Chest G. 38% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 1,308 HIC, 49 Chest G. Range 429-2,535 HIC, 33-92 Chest G. 40% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 28% of vehicles passed both sides. 52% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 30 vehicles were tested this year. One has missing data for the driver. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1980 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 1,330 HIC, 59 Chest G. Range 622-3,063 HIC, 41-101 Chest G. 23% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg.  1,363 HIC, 51 Chest G. Range 523-2,858 HIC, 34-108 Chest G. 32% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 22% of vehicles passed both sides. 68% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 22 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1981 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 1,187 HIC, 52 Chest G. Range 606-2,634 HIC, 41-69 Chest G. 50% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg.  1,034 HIC, 42 Chest G. Range 492-1,747 HIC,  32-58 Chest G. 50% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 29% of vehicles passed both sides. 29% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 14 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1982 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 1,055 HIC, 47 Chest G. Range 478-3,768 HIC, 31-74 Chest G. 61% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg.  935 HIC, 40 Chest G. Range 381-2,484 HIC, 22-50 Chest G. 64% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 50% of vehicles passed both sides. 18% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 28 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1983 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 968 HIC, 55 Chest G. Range 408-1,744 HIC, 34-82 Chest G. 52% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 1,035 HIC, 46 Chest G. Range 376-1,934 HIC, 32-71 Chest G. 43% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 30% of vehicles passed both sides. 35% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 23 vehicles were tested this year. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1984 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 983 HIC, 48 Chest G. Range 309-2,955 HIC, 31-87 Chest G. 66% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 960 HIC, 42 Chest G. Range 356-2,721 HIC, 28-67 Chest G. 50% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 45% of vehicles passed both sides. 29% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 38 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1985 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 1,281 HIC, 50 Chest G. Range 621-2,202 HIC, 33-70 Chest G. 37% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 1,070 HIC, 42 Chest G. Range 262-2,678 HIC, 27-61 Chest G. 57% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 27% of vehicles passed both sides. 33% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 30 vehicles were tested this year. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1986 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 973 HIC, 50 Chest G. Range 552-2,179 HIC, 36-73 Chest G. 59% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg.  959 HIC, 40 Chest G. Range  430-2,662 HIC, 27-55 Chest G. 70% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 52% of vehicles passed both sides. 22% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 27 vehicles were tested this year. One has missing chest data for the passenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1987 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 1,069 HIC, 51 Chest G. Range 405-2,034 HIC, 35-70 Chest G. 54% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg.   816 HIC, 43 Chest G. Range 301-2,140 HIC,  34-81 Chest G. 69% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 50% of vehicles passed both sides. 25% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 37 vehicles were tested this year. One has missing head data for the passenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1988 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 1,083 HIC, 52 Chest G. Range 273-3,665 HIC, 37-97 Chest G. 50% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 738 HIC, 43 Chest G. Range 359-1,457 HIC, 31-63 Chest G. 83% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 47% of vehicles passed both sides. 14% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 36 vehicles were tested this year. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1989 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 961 HIC, 52 Chest G. Range 185-1,983 HIC, 35-73 Chest G. 56% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 908 HIC, 46 Chest G. Range 297-2,482 HIC, 31-77 Chest G. 75% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 56% of vehicles passed both sides. 19% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 36 vehicles were tested this year.One driver and passenger each have missing chest data.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1990 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 948 HIC, 51 Chest G. Range 298-2,613 HIC, 35-74 Chest G. 55% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 873 HIC, 47 Chest G. Range 419-2,132 HIC,  32-64 Chest G. 75% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 48% of vehicles passed both sides. 16% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 34 vehicles were tested this year. 1 driver and 2 passengers each have missing head data.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1991 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 808 HIC, 52 Chest G. Range 343-1,434 HIC, 37-74 Chest G. 66% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 771 HIC, 47 Chest G. Range  258-2,017 HIC,  35-71 Chest G. 77% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 54% of vehicles passed both sides. 15% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 32 vehicles were tested this year.<b> 6 passengers have missing data, </b>two head only.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1992 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 832 HIC, 51 Chest G. Range 282-2,065 HIC, 37-70 Chest G. 74% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 801 HIC, 45 Chest G. Range 331-1,815 HIC, 34-68 Chest G. 78% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 66% of vehicles passed both sides. 14% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 36 vehicles were tested this year.One driver has missing head data.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1993 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 754 HIC, 50 Chest G. Range 273-1,459 HIC, 32-62 Chest G. 74% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 697 HIC, 47 Chest G. Range 290-1,512 HIC, 37-61 Chest G. 87% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 72% of vehicles passed both sides. 10% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 39 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  1994 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 610 HIC, 49 Chest G. Range 238-1,260 HIC, 34-61 Chest G. 88% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 756 HIC, 49 Chest G. Range 300-2,044 HIC,  35-63 Chest G. 76% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 70% of vehicles passed both sides. 6% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 35 vehicles were tested this year.One driver has missing chest data, and one passenger has missing data.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1995 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 706 HIC, 51 Chest G. Range 394-1,474 HIC, 39-67 Chest G. 88% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 652 HIC, 50 Chest G. Range 186-1,874 HIC, 35-60 Chest G. 91% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 85% of vehicles passed both sides. 4% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 48 vehicles were tested this year. 2 passengers have missing data, one chest only. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1996 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 664 HIC, 51 Chest G. Range 216-1,107 HIC, 37-68 Chest G. 88% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg.  592 HIC, 52 Chest G. Range 128-1,236 HIC, 41-69 Chest G. 78% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 75% of vehicles passed both sides. 6% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 32 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1997 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 691 HIC, 50 Chest G. Range 314-1,411 HIC, 37-69 Chest G. 91% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 649 HIC, 50 Chest G. Range 252-1,525 HIC, 39-63 Chest G. 85% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 79% of vehicles passed both sides. 3% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 34 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1998 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 620 HIC, 49 Chest G. Range 258-1,026 HIC, 37-62 Chest G. 96% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 585 HIC, 49 Chest G. Range 227-1,139 HIC,  37-64 Chest G. 90% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 88% of vehicles passed both sides. 2% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 52 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1999 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 609 HIC, 50 Chest G. Range 309-1,008 HIC, 32-71 Chest G. 86% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 587 HIC, 48 Chest G. Range 248-1,163 HIC, 36-65 Chest G. 91% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 80% of vehicles passed both sides. 3% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 35 vehicles were tested this year. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2000 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 575 HIC, 48 Chest G. Range 322-852 HIC, 37-67 Chest G. 89% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 556 HIC, 47 Chest G. Range 307-878 HIC,  37-61 Chest G. 96% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 89% of vehicles passed both sides. 4% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 28 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  2001 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 562 HIC, 47 Chest G. Range 256-1,079 HIC, 31-61 Chest G. 97% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 525 HIC, 45 Chest G. Range 249-941 HIC, 32-59 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 97% of vehicles passed both sides. 0% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 61 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2002 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 531 HIC,  48 Chest G. Range 265-969 HIC, 36-75 Chest G. 96% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 506 HIC, 46 Chest G. Range 241-941 HIC,  36-58 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 96% of vehicles passed both sides. 0% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 49 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2003 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 492 HIC, 46 Chest G. Range 245-894 HIC, 38-58 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 516 HIC, 46 Chest G. Range  241-990 HIC, 35-55 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 100% of vehicles passed both sides. 0% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 40 vehicles were tested this year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2004 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 430 HIC, 43 Chest G. Range 217-778 HIC, 32-59 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 444 HIC, 45 Chest G. Range 214-892 HIC, 31-56 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 100% of vehicles passed both sides. 0% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 49 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">   </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2005 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 430 HIC, 42 Chest G. Range 211-788 HIC, 32-64 Chest G. 96% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 448 HIC, 43 Chest G. Range 241-1,106 HIC,  32-56 Chest G. 98% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 94% of vehicles passed both sides. 0% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 49 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2006 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 428 HIC, 43 Chest G. Range 169-863 HIC, 32-56 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 446 HIC, 43 Chest G. Range 262-760 HIC, 32-57 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 100% of vehicles passed both sides. 0% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 38 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2007 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 411 HIC, 41 Chest G. Range 176-617 HIC, 28-49 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 439 HIC, 42 Chest G. Range 282-852 HIC, 31-54 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 100% of vehicles passed both sides. 0% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 44 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2008 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 432 HIC, 43 Chest G. Range 221-732 HIC, 33-61 Chest G. 98% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 486 HIC, 43 Chest G. Range 177-1,329 HIC, 33-59 Chest G. 98% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 96% of vehicles passed both sides. 0% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 47 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2009 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 381 HIC, 42 Chest G. Range 186-885 HIC, 35-54 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 435 HIC, 41 Chest G. Range 234-757 HIC, 34-49 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 100% of vehicles passed both sides. 0% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 32 vehicles were tested this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2010 model year</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Driver avg. 402 HIC, 42 Chest G. Range 212-661 HIC, 34-53 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pass. avg. 422 HIC, 42 Chest G. Range 258-835 HIC,  29-52 Chest G. 100% passed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 100% of vehicles passed both sides. 0% of vehicles failed both sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 32 vehicles were tested this year. </div>

NHTSA Trends, 1979-2010

The next series of posts on CSD will focus on trends in the NHTSA crash test series between 1979-2010. There are currently 1,168 frontal cr...

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Bus vs. Wall - Parts 1 and 2

<div style="text-align: justify;"> On December 14, 2007, NHTSA took a city bus - a 2000 MCI 54 passenger motorcoach - and slammed it into a wall at 30 mph. There were 13 rows of seats.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7n1kXEqtwgY?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The driver's seat and the front two rows of seats were thrown forward into the front area / windshield. The front three rows of seats did not have dummies. It can be assumed that the driver and at least 50% of the passengers on the first two seat rows would be fatally injured if they were real people. Even the third row was dislodged.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For head injury criterion: (Note, these are rough guides and will not apply to every occupant in every crash)</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 0 - 399: No injury</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 400 - 699: Minor injury</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 700 - 999: Moderate injury</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1,000 - 1,299: Serious injury</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1,300 - 1,499: Severe injury</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1,500 - 1,799: Critical injury</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1,800 or higher: Fatal injury</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/database/aspx/vehdb/occupantinfo.aspx?LJC=6294">Injury Data - 30 mph Crash</a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Chest and leg injury was not a major concern for any occupant in the 4th to 12th rows, but some occupants, especially unbelted occupants, would suffer serious head injury from being tossed around and slammed into stiff structures, in addition to numerous cuts, bruises, and abrasions. One unbelted dummy in the 12th row suffered fatal injury levels.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> On November 16, 2009, a second, more violent crash test took place. This one was on a 1999 MCI motorcoach and took place at 35 mph. Despite the modest increase in crash speed, there was 36% more kinetic energy. The front three rows were removed. This was a 12 row bus.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2gvuGeRNHMU?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Injury measures are with the video on You Tube. Even though they are belted, the fourth row occupants, who are just behind the wreckage, risk serious injury. The first three rows, if they had occupants, would be fatalities; the 4th - 6th rows get pelted by debris, and the interior falls apart. The video says it all. This is a terrifying crash. Some of the belted occupants in the more rearward (8th - 12th) rows get off easy; they are in customized, non-standard bus seats being used for research.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Both tests proved that unbelted occupants, regardless of the location, are at high risk for serious and even fatal injury. It is a good thing that buses are so large.</div>

Bus vs. Wall - Parts 1 and 2

On December 14, 2007, NHTSA took a city bus - a 2000 MCI 54 passenger motorcoach - and slammed it into a wall at 30 mph. There were 13 rows...

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Old NHTSA Spotlight: The 1979 Peugeot 504

<div style="text-align: justify;"> When the 1979 Peugeot 504 went up against the NHTSA crash test barrier on that hot August 27, 1980, it was already a twelve year old design. In Europe, production had been scaled back at this time; the hot ticket and priority for Peugeot at this time was the 505, which had been introduced the year before. The reasoning for the 504's late testing - the individual car tested was almost two years old - has been lost to history.</div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> What is known, however, is that the 504 performed worse than any other vehicle ever tested.  Let's take a look at the video:</div> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O6_kR0RiFoI?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> History doesn't record what the test engineers said upon seeing the impact (go to 2:28 to see it, before that is preparation footage). They even look a bit shocked. They were used to seeing bad performances - this is 1980 after all, and the 43rd chronological NHTSA crash test - but none of the other 42 vehicles had suffered complete structural failure. Intrusion, jammed doors, nasty head impacts, yes. But this was clearly worse than any of those 42 vehicles had been. The low watermark set by this crash test endured for the remainder of the life of this crash test program*, nearly 30 more years.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The 504's front occupant compartment buckled severely in what can only be described as a horrifying display of structural failure. The doors jammed so tightly that even tools couldn't open them, and the dummies had to be removed through the side windows. The driver was pinned to the wheel</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> (Read the full NHTSA report <a href="http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/database/VSR/SearchMedia.aspx?database=v&tstno=219&mediatype=r&r_tstno=219">here</a>. I am not responsible for any nightmares. Make sure to read long before bed.)</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> HIC, or Head Injury Criterion, is a measure of the likelihood and severity of head injury an occupant may suffer. At the time, 1,000 was considered a "fail", with the likelihood of serious head injury or death. The average driver HIC was 1,219 (and passenger HIC 1,325) up to this point, showing the lousy state of car safety at this time. Fatality became possible at 1,300, and likely (over 50% chance) by 1,800. Particularly bad performances at this time had HICs exceeding 2,000. The 1980 Honda Prelude, the worst performance up to this point, managed "only" 3,063 for the driver the month before. Nearly a certain fatality. </div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The driver HIC was <b>4,611. </b>The driver dummy's head assaulted the steering wheel still moving at 34 mph, just one mile per hour short of the impact speed, dashing to the steering wheel in less than half the time it took most crash test dummies of the era. Most poor-performing vehicles' dummies hit the wheel at 15-25 mph - about half the force. <b>In short, it means that the seat belt did next to nothing to slow the dummy down, and was virtually useless.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This means that the Peugeot 504 was worse by a full 50.5%. The driver HIC alone was worse than the <b>combined </b>driver and passenger HICs of 41 of the 42 vehicles tested up to that point, and only 230 points better than the 42nd, that 1980 Honda Prelude.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> (Even today, this HIC, <b>on its own, </b>would be fifth worst among combined driver and passenger HICs. Imagine that that 4,611 was split evenly among the driver and passenger. Their HICs would be 2,306 each, a likely fatality for each occupant, and fifth worst among combined driver and passenger HICs out of over 1,000 vehicles tested by NHTSA in 31 years). </div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The passenger HIC was <b>2,535, </b>still placing it among the worst HICs recorded for an occupant in this type of crash test. The dummy's head hit the glove box, which opened. </div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The combined HIC of <b>7,146</b> is the worst combined HIC of any vehicle by quite a large margin. Next worst was 6,300.</div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  Even worse for safety, this is not a heavy vehicle. A van that performs poorly at least has the advantage of weight in most real life crashes. This vehicle weighs 3,526 pounds, 67 pounds <b>LESS than my 2011 Honda Accord V6, which is a midsize car. </b></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> *Note: The NHTSA crash test program was re-worked starting in 2011. </div> </div>

Old NHTSA Spotlight: The 1979 Peugeot 504

When the 1979 Peugeot 504 went up against the NHTSA crash test barrier on that hot August 27, 1980, it was already a twelve year old design...

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The '70s were a great decade. But...

<div style="text-align: justify;"> ... we drove death traps.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/aktion/Attachment.html?attachmentId=423585">http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/aktion/Attachment.html?attachmentId=423585</a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This article is a real PITA because it's all German and I can't figure out how to copy and translate it. But there are pictures. And I do know that the driver HIC was 1481, indicative of likely severe to critical injury, and the passenger HIC was 2085, which is likely fatal. I couldn't decipher out any chest or leg loads (don't know if they're in the article). The car was a 1974 Cadillac DeVille moving at 35 mph into a flat wall, like the 1979-present NHTSA crash test.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In conclusion... bad.</div>

The '70s were a great decade. But...

... we drove death traps. http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/aktion/Attachment.html?attachmentId=423585 This article is a real PITA bec...

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In A Side Impact, Do Frontal Airbags Help or Hurt?

<div style="text-align: justify;"> Side airbags have been blowing off in frontal crashes for years now. While some vehicles take the principle overboard, many vehicles are deploying their driver side curtain airbags in the IIHS offset test, due to the side movement. Here's ten reasons that deploying this side's curtain airbags can be a good idea: <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=1374&seriesid=459">1 </a><a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=233&seriesid=385">2</a> <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=1681&seriesid=750">3</a> <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=1400&seriesid=710">4</a> <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=811&seriesid=354">5</a> <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=1302&seriesid=427">6</a> <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=1414&seriesid=513">7</a> <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=1602&seriesid=623">8 </a><a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=1688&seriesid=322">9</a> <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=1483">10</a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I'm going to try to settle the question of whether frontal airbags are likely beneficial or detrimental in side impacts. The primary purpose of NHTSA's side impact (from 1994-2010) was to measure thorax injury, so I'm going to compare cars with side and curtain airbag deployments for my control group. I will average the Thoracic Trauma Index for all vehicles with frontal airbag deployment in addition to side airbag deployment, and average the Thoracic Trauma Index for all vehicles with just side and curtain airbag deployment.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I have a hunch that today's advanced airbags are not harmful to most occupants in side impacts, so I will also compare vehicles with no side airbags and frontal airbag deployment against vehicles with no airbag deployment altogether.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The side airbag test group will consist of 2008 models for the no front airbag group and 2007-2009 models for the front airbag group. This is to get a larger sample size for front airbag deployments, as they are in the minority.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The no side airbag test group will consist of 2002 models for the no front airbag group and 2001-2003 models for the front airbag group.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Individual cases will be used as well.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For the side airbag (2008) test group:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Average TTI, no front airbag: <b>44.3 - </b>37 vehicles - Range 18 to 66 with an outlier of 86</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Average TTI, front airbag - <b>40.6 </b>- 14 vehicles - Range 17 to 70</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It is clear that in recent vehicles with side airbags and advanced frontal airbags, front airbag deployment poses little risk and may actually be slightly beneficial. The torsos of all 14 driver dummies were not unduly loaded, and the faces were not hit.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Front airbag deployment CAN be harmful to a small driver sitting far forward in a side impact, however advanced airbags can mitigate this risk.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It is also worthy to note that 44.3 and 40.6 are very low TTIs corresponding to a ~1% risk of severe injury. The state of side impact crashworthiness was very good for most vehicles by 2008.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The no side airbag test group will be in a later post.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

In A Side Impact, Do Frontal Airbags Help or Hurt?

Side airbags have been blowing off in frontal crashes for years now. While some vehicles take the principle overboard, many vehicles are de...

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Part 3: 5-Star Ratings (1996-2003)

<div style="text-align: justify;"> The last "fatality" in NHTSA's test was recorded on November 30, 1994, for the passenger in the 1995 Chevy Blazer. By 1996, most cars had dual airbags; they would become mandatory for the 1998 model year. Evolutionary improvements such as pretensioning seatbelts, load limiting seatbelts, and stronger structures were made during these years. Serious "injuries", rare in 1996, became practically non-existent by 2003.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> No "fatality" data will be given for the 1996 to 2010 years. There were no "fatalities" to speak of. Also, there were no data failures during these same fifteen years. It seems that, by the mid-1990s, both cars and the NHTSA had come a long way from 1979.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>1996</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The lowest HIC (128) in NHTSA history was this year, but more vehicles than usual suffered high chest decelerations.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In 1996, 32 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 664 and average passenger HIC of 592 and chest deceleration of 51.4 G's for the driver and 52.3 G's for the passenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 88% of drivers and 81% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 75% of vehicles spared both occupants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The tests were done a little late; 27 were performed from September 18, 1995 to March 28, 1996, with the final five performed September 5, 1996 to September 19, 1996. The average date was February 18, 1996.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> HICs of the 64 occupants ranged from 128 to 1,236, and chest G's ranged from 37 to 68 G's.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>1997</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The last year of a four year rating "plain" which saw no appreciable improvement or faltering.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In 1997, 34 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 691 and average passenger HIC of 649 and chest deceleration of 49.9 G's for the driver and 49.8 G's for the passenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 91% of drivers and 85% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 79% of vehicles spared both occupants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The tests were done a little late; performed from September 4, 1996 to May 14, 1997 with an average date of January 14, 1997.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> HICs of the 68 occupants ranged from 252 to 1,525, and chest G's ranged from 37 to 68 G's.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>1998</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Depowered airbags and load-limiting seat belts became popular this year; this was the last year to see a major improvement versus the year before. A large test program, NHTSA's second largest, ensured accuracy.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In 1998, 52 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 620 and average passenger HIC of 585 and chest deceleration of 49.2 G's for the driver and 49.1 G's for the passenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 96% of drivers and 90% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 88% of vehicles spared both occupants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The tests were done in a timely manner; performed from May 12, 1997 to May 27, 1998 with an average date of December 23, 1997.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> HICs of the 104 occupants ranged from 227 to 1,139, and chest G's ranged from 37 to 62 G's.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>1999</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Continued evolutionary improvement.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In 1999, 35 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 609 and average passenger HIC of 587 and chest deceleration of 49.8 G's for the driver and 47.7 G's for the passenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 86% of drivers and 91% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 80% of vehicles spared both occupants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The tests were done a little late; performed from August 10, 1998 to May 18, 1999 with an average date of January 15, 1999.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> HICs of the 70 occupants ranged from 248 to 1,163, and chest G's ranged from 32 to 71 G's.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>2000</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The new millennium starts with safer cars.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In 2000, 28 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 575 and average passenger HIC of 555 and chest deceleration of 47.9 G's for the driver and 46.9 G's for the passenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 89% of drivers and 96% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 89% of vehicles spared both occupants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The tests were done in a timely manner; performed from May 20, 1999 to April 5, 2000 with an average date of December 17, 1999.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> HICs of the 56 occupants ranged from 307 to 878, and chest G's ranged from 37 to 67 G's.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>2001</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The largest NHTSA crash test program ever, with more incremental improvement.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In 2001, 61 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 562 and average passenger HIC of 525 and chest deceleration of 46.6 G's for the driver and 45.0 G's for the passenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 97% of drivers and every passenger would escape without serious injury. 97% of vehicles spared both occupants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The tests were done a little late; performed from June 8, 2000 to September 10, 2001 with an average date of January 19, 2001.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> HICs of the 122 occupants ranged from 249 to 1,079, and chest G's ranged from 31 to 61 G's.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>2002</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Almost contemporary safety by now.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In 2002, 49 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 531 and average passenger HIC of 506 and chest deceleration of 48.0 G's for the driver and 45.9 G's for the passenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 96% of drivers and every passenger would escape without serious injury; 96% of vehicles spared both occupants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The tests were done late; performed from July 31, 2001 to June 25, 2002 with an average date of March 30, 2002.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> HICs of the 98 occupants ranged from 241 to 969, and chest G's ranged from 36 to 75 G's.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>2003</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>No dummies were seriously injured this year!</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In 2003, 40 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 492 and average passenger HIC of 516 and chest deceleration of 45.7 G's for the driver and 45.7 G's for the passenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Amazingly, every driver and passenger would escape without serious injury!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The tests were done in a timely manner; 5 were performed from April 9, 2002 to June 26, 2002, with 35 more performed from November 26, 2002 to March 26, 2003. The average date was December 29, 2002.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> HICs of the 80 occupants ranged from 241 to 990, and chest G's ranged from 35 to 58 G's.</div>

Part 3: 5-Star Ratings (1996-2003)

The last "fatality" in NHTSA's test was recorded on November 30, 1994, for the passenger in the 1995 Chevy Blazer. By 1996, m...

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Part 2: Airbags Become Common (1987-1995)

<div style="text-align: justify;"> By 1987, a thin majority of cars were providing adequate protection in the NHTSA crash test, although there were still a great many new cars sold that were flunking.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> As always, it's a good thing they are only inanimate crash test dummies. No humans were harmed in any of the NHTSA tests.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>1987</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Drivers moderately worsen, passengers moderately improve.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">In 1987, 37 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1069 and average passenger HIC of 816 and chest deceleration of 51.1 G's for the driver and 43.4 G's for the passenger. One passenger suffered a data failure.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">54% of drivers and 67% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 50% of vehicles spared both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Fatally injured were 14% of drivers and 3% of passengers, with 3% of vehicles killing both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">The tests were done very late; performed from December 23, 1986 to September 4, 1987 with an average date of May 8, 1987.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">HICs of the 73 occupants ranged from 301 to 2,140, and chest G's ranged from 34 to 81 G's.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>1988</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>Another "holding year."</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">In 1988, 36 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1083 and average passenger HIC of 739 and chest deceleration of 52.0 G's for the driver and 42.9 G's for the passenger. There were no data failures this year.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">50% of drivers and 83% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 47% of vehicles spared both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Fatally injured were 6% of drivers and no passengers. No vehicles killed both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">The tests were done late; performed from November 17, 1987 to June 23, 1988 with an average date of March 19, 1988.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">HICs of the 72 occupants ranged from 273 to 3,665, and chest G's ranged from 31 to 97 G's.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>1989</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>A modest amount of ground was gained this year.</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">In 1989, 36 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 961 and average passenger HIC of 908 and chest deceleration of 52.3 G's for the driver and 46.3 G's for the passenger. One driver and one passenger suffered a data failure.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">57% of drivers and 77% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 57% of vehicles spared both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Fatally injured were 6% of drivers and 9% of passengers; 6% of vehicles killed both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">The tests were done late; performed from September 22, 1988 to August 17, 1989 with an average date of April 9, 1989.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">HICs of the 70 occupants ranged from 185 to 2,482, and chest G's ranged from 31 to 77 G's.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>1990</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>Safety continued to inch forward.</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">In 1990, 34 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 948 and average passenger HIC of 873 and chest deceleration of 51.4 G's for the driver and 47.1 G's for the passenger. One driver and two passengers suffered data failures.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">55% of drivers and 72% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 45% of vehicles spared both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Fatally injured were 3% of drivers and 13% of passengers; 3% of vehicles killed both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">The tests were done a little late; performed from September 12, 1989 to June 12, 1990 with an average date of February 14, 1990.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">HICs of the 65 occupants ranged from 298 to 2,613, and chest G's ranged from 32 to 74 G's.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>1991</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>Another year of notable improvement as driver-side airbags become common.</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">In 1991, 32 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 808 and average passenger HIC of 771 and chest deceleration of 52.5 G's for the driver and 46.7 G's for the passenger. Six passengers suffered data failures.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">66% of drivers and 81% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 54% of vehicles spared both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Fatally injured were no drivers and 8% of passengers. No vehicles killed both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">The tests were done a little late; performed from September 28, 1990 to May 21, 1991 with an average date of February 8, 1991. (An additional test was performed April 14, 1992, bumping the final average to February 21, 1991)</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">HICs of the 58 occupants ranged from 258 to 2,017, and chest G's ranged from 35 to 74 G's.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>1992</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>Performance remained at much the same level as 1991.</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">In 1992, 36 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 832 and average passenger HIC of 801 and chest deceleration of 51.4 G's for the driver and 45.3 G's for the passenger. One driver suffered a data failure.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">74% of drivers and 78% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 66% of vehicles spared both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Fatally injured were 3% of drivers and 3% of passengers. Both fatalities were in the same test; therefore, 3% of vehicles killed both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">The tests were done a little late; performed from September 6, 1991 to September 3, 1992 with an average date of February 25, 1992.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">HICs of the 71 occupants ranged from 282 to 2,065, and chest G's ranged from 34 to 70 G's.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>1993</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>A fatality-free year heralded a major improvement.</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">In 1993, 39 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 742 and average passenger HIC of 691 and chest deceleration of 50.3 G's for the driver and 47.0 G's for the passenger. There were no data failures.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">77% of drivers and 87% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 74% of vehicles spared both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">There were no fatalities this year.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">The tests were done a little late; performed from August 18, 1992 to November 23, 1993 with an average date of January 22, 1993.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">HICs of the 78 occupants ranged from 241 to 1,512, and chest G's ranged from 32 to 62 G's.  </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>1994</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>Drivers gain major ground; passengers slip a little bit.</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">In 1994, 35 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 610 and average passenger HIC of 756 and chest deceleration of 48.6 G's for the driver and 49.1 G's for the passenger. One driver and one passenger suffered a data failure.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">88% of drivers and 76% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 71% of vehicles spared both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Fatally injured were no drivers and 3% of passengers. No vehicles killed both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">The tests were done a little late; performed from August 3, 1993 to October 5, 1994 with an average date of February 12, 1994.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">HICs of the 68 occupants ranged from 238 to 2,044, and chest G's ranged from 34 to 63 G's.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>1995</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b>A holding year from 1994, albeit with flip-flopped driver and passenger results. The last fatality was recorded this cycle, on November 30, 1994.</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">In 1995, 48 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 706 and average passenger HIC of 661 and chest deceleration of 50.6 G's for the driver and 50.5 G's for the passenger. Two passengers suffered data failures.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">90% of drivers and 91% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 85% of vehicles spared both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Fatally injured were no drivers and 2% of passengers. No vehicles killed both occupants.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">The tests were done a little late; performed from August 11, 1994 to September 13, 1995 with an average date of January 12, 1995.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">HICs of the 94 occupants ranged from 186 to 1,874, and chest G's ranged from 35 to 67 G's.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>

Part 2: Airbags Become Common (1987-1995)

By 1987, a thin majority of cars were providing adequate protection in the NHTSA crash test, although there were still a great many new car...

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NHTSA's 1979-2010 Full Frontal Crash Test Program

<div style="text-align: justify;"> It is May 21, 1979 in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Dynamic Science crash test facility. A yellow 1979 Plymouth Champ slams into a wall at 35 mph, demolishing the front end of the car. It's the first crash test ever done under a new program designed to assess the safety of cars and report the results to consumers, and the results here are not good. The dummies, despite being seat-belted, are thrown against dashboard with herculean force. Driver crash test dummy sustains severe "injury" and passenger crash test dummy records fatal "injury".</div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V8kXzrOA1dc?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> January 20, 2010, and the 1160th - and last - test performed is done on a rainy day at Karco Engineering's crash test facility in Adelanto, California. A 2010 Acura ZDX comes to a violent stop against a wall at 35 mph. It couldn't go smoother for the driver dummy, who is gently slowed by an advanced airbag and suffers virtually no "injury." The passenger's stop is a little rougher, but minor "injury" marks a worst-case scenario for this dummy.</div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YpQYdMTsZFg?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The NHTSA full frontal crash test program began in 1979. It is still going today, but the dummies used are different, and injury measures are measured in more detail. This post series focuses on the first generation program, conducted from 1979 to 2010.</div> <br /> Posts will be done in the following order:<br /> <br /> <b>Part 1 - The Early Years - 1979-1986</b><br /> <b>Part 2 - Airbags Become Common - 1987-1995</b><br /> <b>Part 3 - 5-Star Ratings - 1996-2003</b><br /> <b>Part 4 - Safety Nirvana - 2004-2010</b>

NHTSA's 1979-2010 Full Frontal Crash Test Program

It is May 21, 1979 in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Dynamic Science crash test facility. A yellow 1979 Plymouth Champ slams into a wall at 35 mp...

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How do Cars Get Their NHTSA Star Rating?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Between 1994 and 2010, cars were given a "star rating" by NHTSA, based on the risk of severe injury, "an injury that requires immediate hospitalization and may be life threatening". Star ratings are also applicable to 1979-1993 vehicles using the same formula. Two injury measures were used, HIC (Head Injury Criterion) and Chest G (force applied to the ribcage) to get an indication of the combined injury risk to the head and chest.</span></div> <br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5 stars - 10% or less risk. In practice, no or minor injury likely to most people.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4 stars - 11-20% risk. In practice, minor to moderate injury likely to most people.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3 stars - 21-35% risk. In practice, moderate to serious injury likely to most people.</span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2 stars - 36-45% risk. In practice, serious injury likely to most people.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1 star - 46% or greater risk. In practice, serious, severe, critical, or fatal injury likely depending on HIC and Chest G scores.</span></div> <br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These two tables were used by NHTSA to determine star rating:</span><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPuuuDTEnwCU246j75ReIM0ZRob7dbMcZopF-95nnLWGWrMBaR3P2p9WRB8wyhRqY3IQ9weJ5mj2JeCs7iVew-mrOJgwsM15Ffaj5C1ZMsrST-Am3SIskLGGsWW6au5WB1_9G15uhZ_T2/s1600/butthead.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPuuuDTEnwCU246j75ReIM0ZRob7dbMcZopF-95nnLWGWrMBaR3P2p9WRB8wyhRqY3IQ9weJ5mj2JeCs7iVew-mrOJgwsM15Ffaj5C1ZMsrST-Am3SIskLGGsWW6au5WB1_9G15uhZ_T2/s400/butthead.gif" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OkbANLUxXY-DgByu4-lSIGHg5eVt4sIQy1wmFbcZv1j_q5I8NeXh3jgF3Mk5_eryRdQhPJ0ts-wJaN8z0X-PMP91unJqnrNhteFnyXZLeEi_2Kb0126rxbnFC3C6CeseuNlKbk34-ntO/s1600/beavis.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OkbANLUxXY-DgByu4-lSIGHg5eVt4sIQy1wmFbcZv1j_q5I8NeXh3jgF3Mk5_eryRdQhPJ0ts-wJaN8z0X-PMP91unJqnrNhteFnyXZLeEi_2Kb0126rxbnFC3C6CeseuNlKbk34-ntO/s400/beavis.gif" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <br /> To determine your risk in a crash, use this formula: Headrisk + (100%-Headrisk * Chestrisk)</div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Sound confusing? I'll walk you through the formula.</div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Let's say you want to know the driver's injury risk for the 2010 Mercedes E Class. The driver HIC was 606 and Chest G was 46. If you look at the graph, you find that head injury risk is about 5% and chest injury risk is 9%. Injury risk is thus:</div> </div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> 5% + (0.95 * 9%)</div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> 5% + 8.55%</div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Risk of serious injury is about 13.5%, giving the E class a 4 star rating for the driver. A real life driver would likely suffer minor to moderate injury.</div> <br /> If you want to know the risk for your vehicle: you have two options:<br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1) Use the formula. Go to <a href="http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/5-Star+Safety+Ratings/1990-2010+Vehicles">http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/5-Star+Safety+Ratings/1990-2010+Vehicles</a>, search your vehicle, find the test number under the "Frontal Crash" tab (it will be a number in the 5000s or 6000s for newer vehicles, 2000s-4000s for older vehicles), go to the NHTSA crash test database, put in the test number, click on "Vehicle Information" then "Occupant Information". The HIC is under "Head Injury Criterion" and the Chest G is under "3 millisec. clip tdorax region peak acceleration (g).</div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2) Leave a comment with the car you want to look for on this post, and I will look it up for you and tell you your risk. It's no problem so don't hesitate to leave a comment.</div> </div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div>

How do Cars Get Their NHTSA Star Rating?

Between 1994 and 2010, cars were given a "star rating" by NHTSA, based on the risk of severe injury, "an injury that requi...

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1970's Car Safety: NHTSA's First Round of Crash Tests, 1978-1979

<div style="text-align: justify;"> Between March 16, 1978 and May 15, 1979, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tested 35 1978 model year vehicles head on into a flat wall at just under 30 mph. This was an experimental crash test program - the results were unpublished, and the tests carried no legal weight. This crash test was identical to the one that every vehicle had to pass between the 1982 and 1997 model years to be legal for sale in the US. Vehicles ranged from cars to trucks to vans to SUVs. They were American, European, and Japanese - a fine cross-section of the vehicles available to American consumers in 1978.</div> <br /> Conclusions drawn from NHTSA's 1978 crash test program:<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> -Of the 35 tests, 27 were conducted after the start of the 1979 model year (Sept. 1, 1978). 19 were conducted in the 1979 calendar year. The average date of the tests was December 14, 1978. By modern standards, the tests were conducted very belatedly and would be of virtually no use to new car buyers.</div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> - Three driver results and four passenger results were not available due to faults in the testing equipment. That is a 10 percent failure rate - unacceptable by modern standards.</div> <br /> -Average speed was 47.7 kph (29.64 mph), with a range of 46.7 - 48.3 kph (29.02 - 30.01 mph).<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> -A head injury criterion of 1000 or up and/or a chest deceleration of 60 or more G's indicates a likelihood of serious injury. A head injury criterion above 1800 or chest deceleration above 90 G's would likely be fatal.</div> <br /> -Average head injury criteria were 923 for the driver and 1009 for the passenger.<br /> <br /> -Range of head injury criteria was 447 to 2300 for the drivers and 349 to 2223 for the passengers.<br /> <br /> -Average chest decelerations were 47.4 G's for the driver and 43.0 G's for the passenger.<br /> <br /> -Range of chest decelerations were 31 to 62 G's for the drivers and 26 to 71 G's for the passengers.<br /> <br /> -Drivers would have been likely to suffer serious injury in 41% of the vehicles and to be killed in 3%.<br /> <br /> -Passengers would have been likely to suffer serious injury in 28% of the vehicles and to be killed in 6%.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This crash test program was very mild by today's standards but was groundbreaking for its time. A majority of vehicles failed this test, but the introduction of consumer-use crash testing in 1979 and the mandate that all vehicles pass this 30 mph test by 1982 spurred on a rapid improvement in car safety. Today, the 30 mph test into a flat wall is a piece of cake for cars to pass with flying colors, and is no longer used.</div> <br />

1970's Car Safety: NHTSA's First Round of Crash Tests, 1978-1979

Between March 16, 1978 and May 15, 1979, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tested 35 1978 model year vehicles head o...

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