Under the Experimental Safety Vehicle (ESV) Program authorized by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, AMF Inc. and Fairchild Industries developed the first ESVs under competitive contracts, while General Motors Corp. and Ford later developed ESVs under noncompetitive contracts. These contracts stated that ESV testing would be performed by an independent contractor. This paper describes the ESV test program through the GM phase of testing as related to methodology, operating procedures, and results, and the role of Dynamic Science Division of Ultrasystems Inc. as test contractor.
