Abstract
In this study, compatibility is defined as the capability of vehicles to protect both their own occupants and occupants of opponent vehicles during crashes. Vehicles are called compatible when they offer equal amounts of protection to both their own occupants and to occupants of crash-opponent vehicles. The study aimed at detecting vehicle factors that influence occupant and opponent safety, in order to evaluate the amount of compatibility between cars in crashes, especially frontal collisions. This was done by performing statistical analyses of car accidents in the Netherlands, based on data from police registration which were linked to data describing the vehicles involved. (A)