ANALYSIS OF INSURANCE CLAIMS TO DETERMINE BUMPER EFFECT ON CRASH DAMAGE

The effectiveness of the crash-protecting automobile bumpers required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 215--Exterior Protection, Passenger Cars was evaluated through an analysis of insurance claims filed with the State Farm Insurance Company. FMVSS-215 was first implemented in 1973, requiring that bumpers meet certain minimum criteria during a 5-mph front barrier crash and a 2.5-mph rear barrier crash. In 1974, FMVSS-215 was expanded to require that bumpers meet minimum standards during corner pendulum crash tests as well. In addition, the barrier test was upgraded to 5 -mph for the rear barrier crash. The current study compares accident claims from three periods: prior to enactment of FMVSS-215 (1972); the first year of the standards (1973); and additional years since upgrading of the standard (1974-78).

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also PB81-188500.
• Corporate Authors:

  KLD Associates, Incorporated

  47 Mall Drive, Suite 8
  Commack, NY  United States  11725-5717

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Abramson, P
  • Cohen, J
  • Stein, H
• Publication Date: 1980-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 183 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceptance tests; Automobiles; Bumpers; Crash investigation; Crash tests; Crashes; Design standards; Federal government; Insurance; Insurance claims; Loss and damage claims; Motor vehicles; Standards
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00337871
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-HS-805-842 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-9-02207
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 15 1981 12:00AM