The Crashworthiness group at NHTSA VRTC conducts research and vehicle testing to examine issues relating to vehicle structural integrity, crash tests, occupant protection, & automotive defects investigations.
Don Willke is the Chief of the Crashworthiness Division at VRTC. VRTC CRASHWORTHINESS RESEARCH AREAS: (Follow these links for project descriptions, current status information, and publications) OTHER CRASHWORTHINESS INFORMATION: DOT Auto Safety Hotline Crashworthiness Publications Performance of Selected Event Data Recorders (Adobe Acrobat format, 1.26 MB) This report describes the findings of a study to compare the performance of selected Event Data Recorders (EDR’s) in recording the crash environment for severe impact conditions. Inspection and Testing of Low Speed Vehicles (Adobe Acrobat format, 11.59 MB) In response to petitions by the golf cart industry NHTSA reviewed its position on low speed vehicles and has taken steps to define a new class of low speed vehicle (LSV) which is exempt from the federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) that apply to motor vehicles. A new safety standard, FMVSS 100, has been proposed to regulate this new class of vehicle. This report describes a survey and a series of tests conducted to evaluate the safety and stability of LSVs. Quasi Static and Dynamic Roof Crush Testing (Adobe Acrobat format, 1.97 MB) The object of this report was to determine the correlation between roof crush perfomance measured quasi-statically and dynamically. Nine vehicles where tested in the quasi-static mode and six vehicles were tested by dropping them on their roofs. An equation for predicting dynamic energy slope from static data was developed. Crashworthiness Data - Buying a Safer Car: Star ratings, crash testing, and comparative safety information by model year. Lists safety features and gives crash test ratings of frontal protection of new and used cars to help consumers make purchase decisions.
- Compliance Reporting: Crash tests performed at 30 mph and other safety tests to determine if car makers have met minimum Federal requirements.
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