Testing Methods
[Full-wrap frontal collision test]
 Passenger
cars are designed with a structure and features meant to reduce
the degree of injury to passengers in the case of a collision.
The method of testing used to evaluate these features must ensure
that the accidents simulated are as realistic as possible and
that the data obtained from the tests is highly reliable.
In this test, dummies are placed in both the driver's
and front passenger's seats and the vehicle is made to collide
with a concrete barrier at a rate of 55 km/h. The dummies are
checked for injuries to the head, neck, chest and legs, the
vehicle is checked for damage and deformation, and the results
are used to evaluate the degree of passenger protection in 5
levels. Actual collisions of this type tend to occur at speeds
lower than that of this test. Note that the results of this
test do not apply to collisions at extremely high speeds, and
other types of collisions such as when passengers are not wearing
seatbelts, and collisions in which one of the vehicles is a
large truck. Additionally, the results of this test can only
be compared in the case of vehicles with similar weights. In
other words, when the weight of test vehicles is similar, the
safety performance of vehicles with higher ratings is greater
than those with lower ratings. |
[Offset frontal collision test]
 In
this test, dummies are placed in the driver's and front passenger's
seats and the test vehicle is made to collide headon on the driver's
side (at an offset of 40%) with an aluminum honeycomb. The dummies
are checked for injuries to the head, neck, chest and legs, the
vehicle is checked for damage and deformation, and the results
are used to evaluate the degree of passenger protection in 5 levels.
Because this test involves impact with only one part of the
vehicle, the force exerted on the dummy is less than in a fullwrap
frontal collision. However, while the full-wrap frontal collision
test is well suited to evaluating restraining devices (such
as air bags and seatbelts) used to protect passengers, in this
test there is a significant degree of deformation to the body
of the vehicle, which makes it well suited to evaluating injury
to passengers from such deformations.
Actual collisions of this type tend to occur at speeds lower
than that of this test. Note that the results of this test do
not apply to collisions at extremely high speeds, and other
types of collisions such as when passengers are not wearing
seatbelts, and collisions in which one of the vehicles is a
large truck.
Additionally, the results of this test can only be compared
in the case of vehicles with similar weights.
|
[Side collision test]
 Among
the passenger injuries which occur in automobile collisions, side
collisions cause the most damage next to frontal collisions. In
this test, a truck with a weight of 950 kg is made to collide
at a speed of 55 km/h with the side of a stationary test vehicle
with a dummy the driver's seat or the front passenger's seat.
The dummy is checked for injuries to the head, chest, abdomen,
and pelvis, and the results are used to evaluate the degree of
passenger protection in 5 levels.
The front of the truck, which has been made to look like a
normal passenger car, has also been outfitted with a shockabsorbent
aluminum honeycomb which provides a similar degree of hardness
as such a vehicle.
Actual collisions of this type tend to occur at speeds lower
than that of this test. Note that the results of this test do
not apply to collisions at extremely high speeds, and other
types of collisions such as when passengers are not wearing
seatbelts, and collisions in which one of the vehicles is a
large truck. |
[Dummies used in collision tests]
Frontal-collision dummy |
In the full-wrap and offset frontal collision tests, the Hybrid
III dummy (pictured on the left) is used to represent a human
body. This dummy was developed in the United States and represents
the average adult male. It is 178 cm in height and weighs 85 kg.
In the side collision tests, the Euro SID-1 dummy (pictured
on the right) is used. This dummy was developed in Europe and
is 178 cm in height and weighs 75 kg. |
Side-collision dummy |
The results and an explanation of braking performance tests are shown
on here.
The evaluation method of a result
Table of Collision Test Results
Test Results by Model
|
Japanease