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This paper presents an analytical evaluation of unrestrained drivers of light trucks, vans, and multi-purpose vehicles (LTV's) in frontal crashes. Of particular interest was modelling of impact with the steering assembly. The baseline condition was simulated and steering assembly improvements introduced to project estimates of benefits from these countermeasures. Compartment and steering assembly properties were collected for 15 LTV's representing the current LTV population. Computer model input sets were developed for simulating unrestrained driver frontal impacts with the steering assembly. The PAssenger And Driver Simulation (PADS) model was employed for the simulations. The baseline 15 LTV “fleet” was modeled in different frontal crash situations and compared to accident statistics. Countermeasures were introduced and estimates of benefits projected.

This paper presents information on analytical procedures being developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to assess the safety problem associated with occupants of passenger cars involved in frontal impacts. This analytical assessment started with the characterization of a baseline vehicle fleet consisting of specific make/model passenger car groupings representative of the in-use fleet in the United States. Newly developed analytical models have been developed and are being run in an automated mode simulating these vehicles in different frontal crash configurations. The output of these automated runs includes measures of injury severity and cause of injury, and is being used to identify the effect of different vehicle attributes on injury causation. Preliminary analytical results are presented on the relationship between steering assembly structural attributes and injury severity.

Calspan Corporation, under contract with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, developed improvements to the belt systems and compartment of a 1979 Plymouth Horizon and 1981 Plymouth Reliant. In addition, in subsequent model years, Chrysler incorporated structural modifications into the Reliant to improve the crash performance. An unmodified Horizon had previously been subjected to car-to-car crash tests into a Ford Mustang and a Chevrolet Citation at 70 mph closing velocity and both the Horizon and Reliant had undergone barrier crash tests at 35 mph. Certain parts of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208 injury criteria, measured on Part 572 dummies in driver and front seat passenger positions, were exceeded on at least one of the dummies in both Horizon car to car tests and the Reliant to barrier test.