From: ah190@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Stuart Pearl)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Crash Test Info & Saturn Test Score Controversy
Date: 11 Jan 1993 03:00:41 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc10.ins.cwru.edu


What was all the controversy about the Saturn crash test results?
Someone said earlier that the way the government did them was
questionable.  If that was so, wouldn't the test results for all other
vehicles be suspect also?

I just got my copy of the NHTSA report.  The report was generated in
August of 1992 and covers model years 1988-92.  I always wondered just
how they ran the test and felt others might also be curious.  Below is
a reprint ( copied verbatim, without changes or their permission) of
the explanation page that comes with the crash summary:

--------------------------------------------------------------------

                 NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducts a New Car
Assessment Program (NCAP) for the purpose of determining how well
various vehicles perform during a 35 mph frontal crash into a fixed
barrier.  This 35 mph test is equivalent to a head-on collision
between two identical vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.  The test is
also equivalent to a car moving at 70 mph striking an identical parked
car.

All new cars and light trucks which are sold in the U.S. must meet a
stringent 30 mph frontal barrier "safety compliance test" standard to
reduce the likelihood of head, chest, and upper leg injuries.  This
standard for frontal crash protection ensures that all new cars and
light trucks sold in this country provide occupants with reasonable
crash safety protectiom.

     NCAP test, hwoever, are conducted as a "consumer information"
program rather than as safety compliance tests.  NCAP tests are
conducted at 35 mph, 5 mph over the federal safety requirement, which
amounts to a 36 percent increase in the energy of the crash and a
significant increase in the potential for injury.

     NCAP tests magnify the difference between vehicles so that
consumers have additional information on the comparative frontal crash
protection of various passenger cars and light trucks.  A copy of NCAP
crash test results in enclosed for your information."  No it's not,
there's too damn much for me to retype, but you can get a free copy by
calling the ** AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE: 1-800-424-9393 **  "In
interpreting these test results, it is important to remember two
points:

     1.  The human-like dummies which are used in the crash are
         restrained by the SAFETY BELTS.  The test results demonstrate
         the relative crash protection provided to front seat
         occupants when all occupant protection equipment provided
         with the vehicle is used.  The test results DO NOT APPLY TO
         UNBELTED OCCUPANTS.

     2.  In crashes which occur on roadways, occupants are exposed to
         a greater risk of injury in lighter vehicles than they are
         in heavier vehicles.  Therefore, test results are meaningful
         only for comparing vehicles within an approximate weight
         range of 500 pounds.

     The lower the head injury criteria (HIC), chest decelarations,
and femur loads, the lower the potential for injury to drives and
right front seat occupants in a 35 mph frontal crash.  HICs below
1000, chest decelerations below 60, and femur loads below 2250
indicate that serious injuries are unlikely.  Results above these
numbers indicate that serious injuries are possible."

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- that sure was a wordy bit of prose, but I think it explains a lot.
For the heck of it, I've included some partial info on a few random
vehicles I pulled off the list:

                                         HEAD INJURY    CHEST DECEL.
    MAKE      MODEL       DOORS   YEAR   Dr.  Pass.      Dr.  Pass.
    ----      -----       -----   ----   -----------    ------------
   Saturn     SL2           4     1992    705 1063       51    47
   Oldsmobile Achieva       2     1992   2021  343       48    41
   Honda      Accord DX     4     1991    750  378       50    40
   Infiniti   M-30          2     1990    466  433       43    45
   Jeep       Cherokee 4x4  4     1990    943  841       58    52
   Mercury    Sable Wagon*  4     1991    480  258       44    38
   Ford       Taurus        4     1990    735  609       46    40
   Ford       Probe         2     1991    550  418       42    45
   Acura      Vigor         4     1992    914 1192       66    50
   Dodge      Caravan             1992    407  427       50    39
   Cadillac   Seville       4     1992    598  900       46    42
   Dodge      Shadow        4     1991    503  457       42    39
   Ford       Escort        2     1991    434  450       42    39
   Lexus      ES 250        4     1990    992  630       55    47
   Toyota     Camry         4     1992    390  650       53    40
   Volvo      240 DL        4     1992    282  835       37    39
   Mercedes   190E          4     1990    800  833       60    58

       *They didn't wreck an actual Sable for this test, but a Taurus
        instead.

Again, the above is a random, unscientific pick of cars that just
happened to interest me.  I was especially interested in the
Taurus/Sable results since my wife and I just ordered a Sable wagon.
Keep in my when reading the above results, some cars have air bags
while others do not.  In the instance of our Sable, that and the fact
that it is well made, fairly reliable, nicely engineered and American
made all figured into our purchase decision.  I also cut a pretty good
deal at the showroom (see earlier posts of human misery, horror and
much gore - "Dealer Prep Ought to be Road Kill.")

But back to my original query before the above ramblings, what was the
controversy over the Saturn's crash ratings?

-stu
-- 
                   ---===<<< Stuart Pearl >>>===---
                           Cleveland, Ohio
                      ah190@cleveland.freenet.edu
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