In this analysis, body-region injury-risk ratings determined for consumers by EuroNCAP are examined from the perspective of real contemporary accidents. The aim is to compare the real-life experience of various occupants with the objective and subjective conclusions that are presented by EuroNCAP. The accident sample, of several car models, is taken from the Co-operative Crash Injury Study (CCIS), and is comprised of crashes similar to the impact tests. CCIS is the in-depth project that analyses a sample of severe car accidents and provides the foundation of much of the UK's secondary car-safety research programme. The European New Car Assessment programme (EuroNCAP) has had a significant influence on the way that cars are designed. Objective measurements from frontal and side impact tests of each vehicle are augmented by assessments based on real-world accident investigation experience. Using real-world car accidents that are as similar as possible to the EuroNCAP impact tests, detailed accident cases are analysed to determine the injuries to the occupants; the body-region severities; the causes of the injuries; and the global patterns of damage to the vehicle. (A)
Abstract