This article compares the difference in seat positions in vehicle impact tests conducted by different organisations in the USA. Tests mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to comply with motor vehicle safety standards position the dummy further forward than a person of comparable size would choose to sit. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute position the dummy further away. The IIHS point of view is presented in this article: the tests do not reflect actual risks in crashes; small differences in position can affect test results; and car manufacturers can manipulate the test results by altering the length of seat track to fit testing requirements in the USA or Europe.
Abstract