Since 1990, "auto motor und sport" has published the results of over 70 crash tests. All tests were carried out under extremely realistic conditions with the aid of the TUEV Sueddeutschland ECV system. The main advantage of this system is that the test vehicles are driven under their own engine power. A 50% offset collision into a 15 degree angled solid barrier at a speed of 55 kph was selected as the test configuration. This has allowed conclusions to be drawn concerning the behaviour of the restraint system and of the vehicle structure. Since the test conditions were maintained exceptionally accurately during the series, developments and tendencies could be drawn from the data. The following tendencies could clearly be seen from the database: the stiffness of the occupant compartment has increased; restraint systems have become noticeably more efficient; the pattern of injury has changed, with injuries of the lower extremities now becoming more important. The series of published crash tests has therefore significantly contributed to turn the attention of the car driver towards vehicle passive safety. In the future the problem of compatibility will increasingly be taken into consideration in the area of personal safety. Vehicle-vehicle crash tests, which have also been presented for publication, have contributed to clarifying some of these issues. These publications may also lead to further objective conclusions. (A)
Samenvatting