Crash Testing

Believe it or not, car manufacturers don't need your mate to crash test his new car into a tree.

Every car in the UK must go through an NCAP safety test to determine how it would fare in a crash. We're going to talk you through a few of the more common tests to let you know how cars are tested for safety.

Front Impact

This test is not head on, it's actually a little offset to simulate the car colliding with another vehicle at 40Mph. This test is often a good indication of how the cabin would react in an accident. One of the most common forms of injury in this kind of accidents is when the pedals or other ancillary equipment are pushed out of their normal position. Imagine your pedals moving 2 feet towards you, most uncomfortable.

Side Impact

This test simulates the car being hit from the side at 30Mph. A common injury from this kind of impact can be to the waist and upper legs(hips etc) therefore these areas are monitored closely.

Pedestrian Impact

This is one of the slightly newer tests. Quite simply a dummy is hit at 25mph and based on readings from where the head collides with the bonnet, how the legs fare etc the results are calculated.

Pole Impact

This test was introduced to illustrate to manufacturers that many car accidents happen when someone collides sideways with a pole or tree. Therefore special emphasis is put on extra head protection as injuries to the head are one of the most serious injuries sustained in this kind of impact.

Over the past 30 years, the advancements in car safety have been phenomenal. Airbags, side airbags, impact protection bars, crumple zones etc. All of this technology is there solely to protect us from harm, however, just because it's there doesn't mean you can walk away from every crash, you're just more likely to.

Date - 15/09/2006