THE NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) WAS INTRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) IN 1979 TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A RATING SYSTEM WHICH GIVES NEW CAR PURCHASERS INFORMATION ON THE COMPARATIVE CRASHWORTHINESS OF SMALL CARS. RESULTS ARE GIVEN OF THE IMPACT TESTS CARRIED OUT TO STUDY THE DIFFERENCES IN PERFORMANCE AMONG VEHICLES OF SIMILAR WEIGHT. THESE RESULTS INDICATE THAT THERE IS WIDE VARIATION IN CARS THAT COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER ON THE MARKET. THE CAUSES OF DIFFERENCES AMONG VEHICLES GENERALLY FALL INTO THREE CATEGORIES: (1) VEHICLE STRUCTURE, (2) STEERING COLUMN PERFORMANCE, AND (3) RESTRAINT SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. (A) FOR THE COVERING ABSTRACT OF SECTION 5 SEE IRRD 266063. FOR THYE COVERING ABSTRACT OF THE CONFERENCE SE IRRD 266046.
Samenvatting