Crash Compatibility

Our research is exploring the factors leading to the incompatibility between cars, light trucks and vans in collisions. In fatal crashes between cars and light trucks, 81% of the fatalities are in the car.

Lincoln Navigator vs. Dodge Neon in a NHTSA Crash Test

What is Crash Compatibility?

The crash compatibility of a vehicle is a combination of its crashworthiness and its aggressivity when involved in crashes with other members of the vehicle fleet. While crashworthiness focuses on the capability of a vehicle to protect its occupants in a collision, aggressivity is measured in terms of the casualties to occupants of the other vehicle involved in the collision. Crashworthiness is sometimes referred to as self-protection while reduction in aggressivity is sometimes referred to as partner-protection.

Why are LTVs Incompatible with Cars in Crashes?

During the past decade, a profound shift in the composition of the passenger vehicle fleet has been experienced in the U.S.. Fueled by the growing popularity of pickup trucks, minivans and sports utility vehicles, the demographics of the U.S. fleet are characterized by a growing population of light trucks and vans (LTVs). As a group, LTVs are heavier, of more rugged construction, and have higher ground clearance than the passenger cars with which they share the road. The concern is that these design features, introduced to allow specialized functions e.g. off-road driving, may make LTVs fundamentally incompatible with cars in highway crashes, and in some cases dangerous to the occupants of cars struck by LTVs.

Publications

  1. Gabler, H.C., “The Evolution of Side Crash Compatibility Between Cars, Light Trucks and Vans”, SAE Transactions, Journal of Passenger Car - Mechanical Systems, v.112, sec. 6, Paper No. 2003-01-0899 (2003)
  2. Gabler, H.C. and Hollowell, W.T , “The Crash Compatibility of Cars and Light Trucks”, Crash Prevention and Injury Control, Vol. II, No. 1, pp 19-31 (2000)
  3. Gabler, H.C. and Hollowell, W.T , "NHTSA's Vehicle Aggressivity and Compatibility Research Program", Proceedings of the Sixteenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety Vehicles, Windsor, Canada. (1998)
  4. Gabler, H.C. and Hollowell, W.T., " The Aggressivity of Light Trucks and Vans in Traffic Crashes", SAE Transactions, Journal of Passenger Cars, Section 6, v.107, Paper No. 980908 (1998)