1

Feasibility of Reducing Death and Injuries in Small Overlap/Oblique

Crashes

NHTSA and Honda R&D Meeting

11/16/2009

2

Contents

• Background

• Brief Research Plan

• Test Plans

3

Fatalities In Frontal Crashes Despite Seat Belts And Air Bags

• 2000-2007 NASS fatalities for model year vehicles 2000+ where occupant was restrained

Regulations.gov NHTSA-2009-0168-0001

4

Small Overlap and Oblique Offset Crashes

• Different target populations• Different interaction with vehicle structure• Different countermeasures may apply

Engages one or both longitudinals with certain amount of overlap and obliqueness to the crash

Small Overlap Oblique Offset

Low acceleration pulse until hitting the occupant compartment

5FLEE/FREE are Collision Deformation Classification codes for small overlap

% Fatalities and %Injuries by Frontal Crash Type

NASS 2000-2007, FARS 2007

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Problem Definition

• NASS FLEE definition may not accurately define small overlap crashes – MCW is developing a methodology using

NASS data to define small overlap crashes

• Revisiting NASS analysis to evaluate relationship of intrusion to injury for frontal crashes

• Performing NASS/CIREN case reviews

7

Problem Definition (continued)

• Reviewing NASS cases to investigate why some occupants are not injured in similar crashes when compared to occupants that are injured

8

Test Program

• Crash Testing– Using Thor-NT to evaluate injuries– Vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests

• 2000-2006 Taurus into stationary Taurus– 15 degrees – 50 and 80 percent – 35 mph delta V for target vehicle

• Ford 500 into stationary Ford 500– 15 degrees– 50 percent overlap– 35 mph delta V for target vehicle

• Taurus into stationary Taurus – 15 degrees– 18 percent overlap– 30 mph delta V

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General Task (continued)

• Crash Testing continued– 214 MDB-to-vehicle crash tests

• MDB into stationary Taurus – 15 degrees– 50 percent overlap– 35 mph delta V for target vehicle

• MDB into stationary Taurus – 15 degrees – 18 percent overlap– 30 mph delta V

– ACE to non ACE Civic using crabbed pole test