TURNER KORNER

This article reports an interview with J Korner, senior safety engineer, Volvo Car Corporation, Sweden, where he assesses today's rating systems for vehicle crash tests, and introduces Volvo's own very effective predictive rating methods. Korner describes most existing crash-test rating systems as confusing, conflicting, and insufficient; he gives verdicts on six of the better systems. Given vehicle models do not yet receive similar scores from all rating systems, laboratory test ratings test only a fraction of the total crash spectrum. What is needed is a global crash-test rating system, based on multi-mode testing. The best rating would combine head-on, off-set, and sideways collisions and, when its measuring technology has been developed, some whiplash. It would use Volvo's specially developed predictive crash-test scoring system that is directly related to real crash data. Volvo's system uses several sizes of crash-test dummies, and several speeds. It also uses computer simulations to test modifications, and data about all Volvo crashes in Sweden, collected by the police and insurance companies. These data are compared with laboratory results, to help predict the real-life performance of new models. It will be some time before a crash-rating standard is agreed, because not all manufacturers have the same positive opinions on predictive systems.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/14618966
• Corporate Authors:

  UK and International Press

  Abinger House, Church Street
  Dorking, Surrey  United Kingdom  RH4 1DF
• Authors:
  • Johnson, G
• Publication Date: 2000-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 20-2
• Serial:
  • TESTING TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
  • Publisher: UK and International Press
  • ISSN: 1461-8966

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Anthropometry; Automobiles; Crash tests; Crashes; Data collection; Dummies; Evaluation and assessment; Expert evidence; Forecasting; Interviewing; Methodology; Quality control; Simulation; Speed; Test procedures; Vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Quality
• ITRD Terms: 1618: Anthropometric dummy; 1243: Car; 1631: Collision; 8623: Data acquisition; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 1528: Expert opinion; 132: Forecast; 1648: Impact test (crash); 9147: Interview; 9102: Method; 9063: Quality; 9103: Simulation; 5408: Speed; 6288: Test method; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Research; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00795160
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 7 2000 12:00AM