This paper examines market research findings about consumer knowledge of vehicle safety. Consumer demand for simplified information is evaluated in the context of output generated from Australian NCAP full frontal and offset frontal barrier crash tests. The development of Australia's NCAP result presentation format is described. Australian NCAP originally presented results as discrete dummy response measurements from each crash test. Following consumer demand to simplify presentation, NCAP management applied injury risk functions to the results producing a single index rating. This 100 point scale represents the risk of life threatening injury for a weighted combination of full frontal and driver's side offset crashes. (A)
Abstract