Crash Testing for Safety

The IIHS says the results of this test should not be used to compare vehicles of different weight classes. Given equivalent ratings, a heavier vehicle will usually be safer in a crash. It’s simple physics.


Side Impact Test: The IIHS’s side crash test involves a vehicle with dummies in the driver’s seat and the rear seat behind the driver. The dummies represent fifth percentile females or 12-year-old children.


The vehicle tested is struck perpendicularly in the side by a SUV-height barrier that weighs 3300 pounds moving 31 mph. The Institute’s ratings are based on injury measures recorded on the dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle’s structural performance during the impact.


The injury measures determine the likelihood that either occupant would sustain serious injury to the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, or femur. How the dummies’ heads move and if they contact any surfaces are also evaluated. Structural performance is determined by how far the side pillar intrudes into the occupant compartment.


When buying a car with side airbags, it’s best to check all the option boxes. Seat-mounted front side airbags protect the torso. Curtain side air bags generally protect the head.


Rear Impact Test: The rear impact test measures the effectiveness of a vehicle’s seats. Rear crashes aren’t as likely to cause life-threatening injuries as front and side impacts. The main injury is whiplash, which can be prevented with a head restraint that stays close to the head.