Crash test procedures required by present safety
standards for side crashes require the crash dummies to be located on the side
of the vehicle closest to the impact. Far
side occupants, those located on the opposite side from the impact, are not
currently required in any test. Field data indicates that occupants in far side
crashes contribute approximately 33% of all AIS 3+ injuries to restrained front
seat occupants exposed to side crashes. There
is currently little test data on the performance of conventional 3-point belt
systems in far side crashes. This
project has evaluated a variety of production safety belt systems in far side
crashes.
Another part of the project is to analyze accident data to determine the opportunities for safety improvements in far-side crashes. The project initiated in 2001 by ASRI was continued under an International Cooperative Research Project directed by Dr. Brian Fildes of Monash University in Australia and Dr. Kennerly Digges of The George Washington University with funding from the Australian Research Council and others. The papers in the following table describe the data analysis and computer modeling conducted to determine test conditions for far-side safety systems to reduce injuries. The paper and presentation may be accessed by the links to follow:
Opportunities for Reducing Far-side Casualties, by G. Bahouth and others, Paper Number 15-0444, Proceedings of the 23rd ESV Conference, June, 2015 | |
Research
to Support a Far-side NCAP Test, by K. Digges, June 2015
Video of Far-side Test at GWU; Central Impact Near B-pillar Video of Far-side Test at GWU; Forward Impact Near A-Pillar |
|
A Parametric Study of Far-Side Restraint Mechanics, by R. Kent and others, Paper Number 13-0381, Proceedings of the 22nd ESV Conference, June 2011. - | |
General Motors Announcement of a Far-side Airbag in MY 2013 Vehicles, Press Release and Pictures, September 29, 2011 | |
Final Report, ARC Cooperative Far-side Project - Monash University and George Washington University Report, June 2009 | |
A Safety Rating For Far-Side Crashes, Paper Number 09-0217, Proceedings of the 21st ESV Conference, June 2009. - Paper | |
A Safety Rating For Far-Side Crashes, Paper Number 09-0217, Proceedings of the 21st ESV Conference, June 2009. - Presentation | |
Vehicle and Occupant Motion in Far-side Crash Tests, S. Haight and K. Digges, George Washington University Report, December 2010 | |
Injury and Harm Analysis, Task 1, ARC Cooperative Far-side Project -February 2008 | |
Biomechanical Test Program, Task 2, ARC Cooperative Far-side Project -October 2008 | |
Test Procedures - Crash Tests and Sled Tests for the Far-side, Task 5b Report, ARC Cooperative Far-side Project -June 2009 | |
Far-Side Sled Test Validation with MADYMO, C. Echemendia and K. Digges GW University, April 2009.- Paper | |
Development and Validation of A Finite Element Model of the Q3 Anthropomorphic Testing Device, Dissertation by Christoph Maurath, March, 2008 | |
Opportunities for Reducing Casualties in Far-side Crashes, Presentation by K. Digges, R. Morgan and H. Gabler, SAE Government-Industry Meeting, May 2006 | |
Opportunities for Reducing Casualties in Far-side Crashes, Presentation by K. Digges and H. Gabler, SAE International Congress, April 2006 | |
Characteristics of the Injury Environment in Far-side Crashes, Paper by K. Digges, H. Gabler, P. Mohan and B. Alonzo, AAAM, 2005 | |
Characteristics of the Injury Environment in Far-side Crashes, Presentation by K. Digges, H. Gabler, P. Mohan and B. Alonzo, AAAM, 2005 | |
Injuries to Restrained Occupants in Far-side Crashes, Paper by K. Digges and D. Dalmotas, ESV Paper 351, 2001 | |
Injuries to Restrained Occupants in Far-side Crashes, Presentation by K. Digges and D. Dalmotas, ESV Paper 351, 2001 | |
Summary Cases of Drivers in Far-side Crashes - NASS Year 2002 |