Side Impact Test
Side crashes account for the second highest frequency of death and serious injuries in regions like Europe. Compared to a frontal impact, there is very little space inside the vehicle interior in which to absorb energy and as a result severe injuries to the head and the chest are common. A 1400 kg deformable barrier is mounted on a trolley and propelled at 60 km/h to impact the stationary test vehicle at a right angle. A new side impact dummy, called the WSID, representing an average-sized adult male, is placed in the driver or front passenger seat, along with two child dummies aged 3 and 10 years old in their respective child restraint systems in the rear seat.
The test ensures that there is adequate protection of the critical body regions: head, chest, abdomen and pelvis. This has driven the strengthening of the structures of vehicles around the B-pillar (between front and rear door), the fitment of side body and side curtain airbags in cars but also the development of less obvious energy-absorbing structures in seats and door panels. Airbags alone are not enough to provide adequate protection for occupants; their timing and deployment must be precisely controlled to ensure they offer the best possible protection.