Citation

Zobel R. Proc. IRCOBI 1995; 23: 375-388.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to report on a study made by Volkswagen, comparing the results from different Institutes on the passive safety of vehicles. These Institutes use accident data from the police or from insurance companies. They derive a rating from these figures and publish it as a guideline for the customer, "to choose safety." At least their publications seek to give this impression: (1) Title of the leaflet of the British Department of Transport: Buying a Car? Choose Safety; (2) The Australian Monash University Accident Research Centre uses the title: How does your car rate in a crash?; and (3) Folksam, a Swedish insurance company is very clear: How safe is your car? Clearly they feel that their data can answer this question. It is the purpose of the paper to summarize a number of observations which make it hard to believe that people are already in a position to evaluate the passive safety of vehicles from accident statistics alone.