This might partly explain the adverse result for vans. One criticism of consumer offset crash tests is that they are claimed to push manufacturers towards building stiffer vehicles, in order to protect their own occupants, and that these stiffer vehicles are more aggressive to other vehicles. Some vehicles performed exceptionally well at protecting their occupants in the offset test while apparently having low aggressivity towards the occupants of other vehicles. Evidently this was achieved by efficiently absorbing crash energy in the front structure while retaining the integrity of the passenger compartment. Occupants of other vehicles should be at less risk in collisions with these low-aggressivity vehicles.
Vehicle design is therefore a crucial factor in achieving good crashworthiness and low aggressivity.
Since aggressivity is not a quality easily affected by consumer pressure this may be an area which requires legislation. The passenger compartment should keep its shape in the crash test. The steering column, dash, roof, roof pillars, pedals and floor panels should not be pushed excessively inwards, where they are more likely to injure the occupants. Doors should remain closed during the crash and should be able to be opened after the crash to assist quick rescue. There is a temptation, when observing a frontal crash test, to concentrate on what is happening at the front of the vehicle, since this is where most of the deformation is occurring.