richman@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu (04/30/88)
The following is a partial reproduction of a table and text appearing
in Child. The numbers seem hard to explain and I would appreciate any
input on how they are derived, if they are reliable (does the National
Highway Transportation Safety Administration crash 10 cars of one type
and take an average?) and general opinions of the usefulness of
crashing automobiles (does crashing a car into a fixed barrier head-on
come close to approximating the average accident?):
`CRASH TESTS. If you are shopping for safety, you shouldn't overlook
a car's overall "crashworthiness". The federal government performs
evaluations by running cars head-on into a fixed barrier at 30 and
35m.p.h. The tests, using dummies, indicate if the driver and
passenger would have survived, and the seriousness of their injuries,
if any. Numbers are assigned to the results. Scores above 1000 in the
head-injury category and above 60 in the chest injury category for the
driver and passenger suggest a much increased chance of death or
serious injury.....'
VEHICLE CRASH-TEST PERFORMANCE
Driver (passenger)
Manufacturer Model Head Injury Chest Injury
------------ ------------------ ----------- ------------
Chrysler Dodge Shadow 1488 (653) 49 (36)
Le Baron 791 (1698) 62 (82)
Plymouth Sundance 873 (N.A.) 52 (41)
Plymouth Voyager 903 (501) 43 (47)
Ford Escort 551 (418) 42 (40)
Mustang LX 479 (301) 42 (34)
Mercury Topaz 743 (626) 64 (40)
Aerostar 1568 (1070) 49 (54)
General Motors Oldsmobile Calais 405 (328) 70 (40)
Pontiac Sunbird 603 (404) 36 (37)
Pontiac Grand Am 846 (601) 44 (41)
Chevrolet Camaro 733 (660) 39 (39)
Honda Accord 769 (382) 46 (36)
Acura Integra 599 (597) 35 (34)
Hyundai Excel 716 (1003) 55 (43)
Isuzu I-Mark 1809 (1042) 53 (51)
Jeep Wrangler 758 (1229) 44 (40)
Mazda 626 LX 846 (801) 52 (46)
Nissan Sentra 2034 (799) 61 (N.A.)
Peugeot 505 STX & Turbo Sedan 1831 (1786) 60 (50)
Suburu Selected Wagons 1339 (884) 58 (44)
Toyota Camry 871 (973) 51 (46)
Yugo GV 1855 (379) 45 (41)
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Mike Richman internet: richman@uiucuxe.cso.uiuc.edu
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