In 1999, the Korean government established the Korean New Car Assessment Program after 3 years research works. KNCAP test protocol and evaluation methods are similar to USA NCAP. At the beginning of the year, small numbers of new domestic vehicles were introduced in the market, the KNCAP committee selected test vehicles by category of cars. The test results directly affected both consumers and manufacturers due to comparisons of vehicles in the same class. In the first year only 3 compact size vehicles were tested. But year-by-year the test volume was increased. Up to now 24 vehicles have been tested. During the programs, significant improvements in occupant safety devices and adoption of advanced safety devices such as driver's seat airbag systems, pretensioned seat belts and load-limiters in belts were observed. Over the period of the KNCAP tests, driver's injury values improved up to 32% in the compact and sub-mid size class cars. Passenger's injury values improved by 7.3% in terms of combined head and chest injury probabilities. Currently, KNCAP evaluates new cars only with a full frontal barrier test and braking test. However, this year a European side impact test with 55kph impact speed will be included. In the near future, KNCAP will be expanded to offset barrier test, pedestrian test and child restraint system test. For the covering abstract see ITRD E825082.
Samenvatting