Citation

McNeill A, Haberl J, Holzner M, Schoeneburg R, Strutz T, Tautenhahn U. Proc. Int. Tech. Conf. Enhanced Safety Vehicles 2005; 2005: 8p.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, In public domain, Publisher National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Car manufacturers design vehicles and side impact restraint systems to protect passengers from the risk of serious injury in the event of a side impact. In each of the major markets of the world, the side-impact testing requirements as set by the regulatory and the consumer interests are generally different. This paper documents and compares the international side impact regulatory and consumer test requirements of now and the future. Using a sample of results from vehicles tested in accordance with the discussed future regulations and consumer tests, it is shown that vehicles currently “best rated” for side-impact protection in consumer tests need to be redesigned in order to meet the prospective regulatory requirements. This paper discusses the vehicle structural, interior and restraint design changes, which could be required. The global side-impact tests and requirements are diverging, and not converging towards a harmonized Side-impact Testing Protocol as presented by the International Harmonized Research Activities committee (IHRA) at the 2003 ESV Conference. It is the goal of car manufacturers that side-impact requirements and procedures should become less diversified and more harmonized as they continue to improve side-impact protection for all customers worldwide.