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This paper describes computer crash simulations performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under the current research and testing activities on large school bus safety restraints. The simulations of a frontal rigid barrier test and comparative dynamic sled testing for compartmentalization, lap belt, and lap/shoulder belt restraint strategies are presented. School bus transportation is one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. School age children transported in school buses are safer than children transported in motor vehicles of any other type. Large school buses provide protection because of their size and weight. Further, they must meet minimum Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSSs) mandating compartmentalized seating, improved emergency exits, stronger roof structures and fuel systems, and better bus body joint strength.

The purpose of this study is to attempt to quantify the differences between CRASH3 generated velocity change (ΔV) as used in the National Automotive Sampling System - Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) and measured velocities in actual frontal crash tests. An appropriate factor is then applied to ΔV in NASS to estimate an adjusted ΔV distribution based on these differences. A substantial change to the velocity distribution in NASS-CDS will have a significant bearing on the estimates of lives and injuries affected by any changes to the impact velocity for the frontal crash test in FMVSS No. 208 or other rulemaking decisions.