Crash Test Safety Rating
From LoveToKnow Safety
A vehicle's crash test safety rating is one thing that you should take into consideration before you make the decision to buy.
Crash Test Safety Ratings: Multiple Categories
A car or truck is rated in the following categories as part of the safety testing process:
- Frontal Impact
- Side Impact
- Rear Impact
- Rollover
The highest rating that a vehicle can be given is five stars. For maximum safety, you should look for one that has received a five-star rating in all of the categories.
How Safety Testing Works
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the government agency that conducts vehicle safety testing.
Frontal Impact Testing
During a frontal impact test, the vehicle is propelled straight ahead into a concrete barrier at a speed of 35 miles per hour (mph). The test is conducted in this way to simulate an accident where a car moving at that speed hits another one moving at 35 mph.
Side Impact Testing
During a side impact testing procedure, a sled weighing in at just over 3,000 lbs is run into the side portion of the vehicle being tested. The sled is outfitted with a bumper-type device and the tires on the sled are placed at an angle.
This test is made to simulate what happens when a car is sideswiped by another vehicle while going through an intersection. Again, an accident where the vehicles are moving at 35 mph is simulated during the test.
Crash Test Dummies
Before the collision is simulated, crash test dummies painted with different colors are placed in the test vehicle. The paint colors are placed on parts of the body that are most likely to be impacted during an accident. The face, skull, and knees are all painted different colors.
The Crash Test
The crash test dummies are placed in the vehicle and it is rigged up for the crash test. Various instruments are placed in the car and hooked up. Extra weight is added to the vehicle so that researchers will have test results similar to that of a fully-loaded vehicle being involved in an accident. One of the sensors used in the test measures the speed the car is traveling at shortly before the moment of impact.
Cameras are used to record the crash, including ones placed under the vehicle. For a frontal impact crash test, the car is moved back from the barrier and positioned to crash into it. A pulley system pulls the vehicle down a runway toward it. The car hits the barrier at a measured rate of 35 mph and less than one second later, the car stops moving.
After the Crash
In a frontal collision, researchers are looking to see whether the front portion of the vehicle was crushed during the accident. This is actually a good sign if it happens, since it means the vehicle is able to absorb the kinetic energy released as a result of the crash and stop it.
"Smart" Air Bags
The field of vehicle safety continues to evolve and in the future, drivers and passengers will have an added element of protection from injury. Air bags are being developed that will deploy differently based on the size and weight of the person sitting in a particular seat. The speed of deployment and the amount of pressure in the airbag will vary for different occupants.
There is a detailed process involved in setting a crash test safety rating for a vehicle. This information is an important factor to keep in mind when you are shopping for a new vehicle.
