This sort of test is actually tougher for a car to do well in than one involving a full-on collision with a solid block. Although similar to the American IIHS testing regimen, there is considerable variation between IIHS and the Euro-NCAP chest compression criteria. In particular, more lenient standards in the US for chest compression resulted in discrepancies between IIHS and Euro-NCAP ratings. Euro-NCAP crash tests demonstrate the potential benefits of side airbags with head protection in side impact crashes. There is a new provision in the Euro-NCAP protocol for a side impact pole test to be conducted at the manufacturer's expense.
Pedestrians are much more vulnerable than car occupants when a crash occurs.
Euro NCAP's pedestrian evaluation tests the most hazardous areas of each model. Each of the heads are tested at six different locations and each limb at three, making 18 impacts in all. Measuring devices inside the dummy parts record the severity of impact, and the results are used to rate each car. No cars yet tested have provided sufficient protection to meet all of the requirements of the proposed legislation. However Euro NCAP provides an incentive for manufacturers to do more to protect pedestrians.