EEVC working group 11 report on the development of a front impact test procedure

Having developed a test procedure for side impact protection, the EEVC turned its attention to improving the requirements for car occupant protection in frontal impacts. The potential for modifying existing Regulations was reviewed but it was concluded that an entirely new, and more realistic, frontal impact test incorporating dummies and biomechanical criteria was the most likely route to vehicle designs with improved occupant protection. Examination of accident data from different sources and impact test results led to the conclusion that the most effective impact test configuration would be an offset impact into a deformable face. This report describes the WG11 studies leading to this conclusion and the test programme performed to define the conditions for this test procedure. (A)