Crash Testing — An Introduction

Crash testing is becoming an increasingly complex science, and in the not-too-distant future, we hope to give you a more detailed picture of this task in various countries and enlarge how it affects you.

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If you are looking for a specific vehicle, check the government or independent center that covers your country/continent. In addition, the websites for testing centers operated by the relevant car manufacturer (currently, only Volvo and Honda are listed) should also be viewed, if possible, to see what that company is doing regarding safety. Still, as theirs is a development role, they will not give details for specific vehicle types.

In Europe, Euro NCAP is the best source of information, and the Australian ANCAP program is primarily based on this.

From the USA, you can read an explanation by the NHTSA(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) about crash testing procedures.

Suppose you are considering the purchase of a Japanese vehicle but live in the USA. In that case, it is better to check the American testing center information first — in case the IIHS lists the car you want — rather than go directly to sources in Japan, as some vehicles have different specifications depending upon where they are to be sold.

The Volvo Crash Testing Laboratory in Stockholm, Sweden, is the world’s most advanced research center of its type and is said to set the standard by which all other testing centers should be judged.

In Japan, Honda opened the world’s first indoor crash testing center, at Tochigi, in May 2022. This was followed by the opening of a second center, in Ohio, in 2023. View the details here.

Crashing Through The Safety Barrier‘ is a relevant and fascinating article by Thomas Geiger of the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (October 14, 2023).