ANALYSIS OF INSURANCE CLAIMS TO DETERMINE BUMPER EFFECT ON CRASH DAMAGE - 1979 MODEL YEAR, ADDENDUM

The effectiveness of the crash-protecting automobile bumpers required by Part 581--Bumper Standard, which replaced FMVSS-215 for vehicles manufactured after August 1978, was evaluated through an analysis of a sample of insurance claims filed with the State Farm Insurance Company. Part 581 Bumper Standard incorporates the safety-related performance criteria of FMVSS-215 and also specifies damage limitations to nonsafety-related components and the vehicle surface areas. The vehicle crash tests include longitudinal and corner pendulum impacts and front and rear barrier impacts (5 mph). The current study compared accident claims (frequency and cost) from four model year periods: prior to enactment of FMVSS-215 (1972); the combined experience of all previous vehicles complying with any version of the standard (1973-78); the combined experience of all previous vehicles complying with the upgraded version of the standard (1974-1978); and vehicles complying with Part 581--Requirements (1979).

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also PB81-188492.
• 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: 1980-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 55 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: 00337872
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-HS-805-843 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-9-02207
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 15 1981 12:00AM