Crash Test Scores-What do they Mean to You?

If you are considering purchasing a new vehicle it is worth it to take the time to do some research and find out not only information about how the vehicle you are considering purchasing stacks up in regards to safety tests but also exactly what the information from those crash safety tests really means.

There are two organizations that keep scores regarding crash testing. These are the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, IIHS. Both of these organizations began keeping track of safety data during the 1960s when Ralph Nader released information regarding safety issues related to the Chevrolet Corvair in his book, Unsafe at Any Speed. The first crash tests were conducted by a division of the Department of Transportation and continued to be conducted by the DOT until 1978. The IIHS did not begin conducting tests until 1995.

At the current time the IIHS and the NHTSA both conduct frontal and side crash testing. It is important to be aware; however, that these two organizations conducts their tests a bit differently. The NHTSA does a rollover test while the IIHS conducts head and seat restraint tests in low-speed bumper and rear crashes. Because of the differences in these tests it is important to take data from both organizations into consideration when you are considering which vehicle might be best for you and family.

You may note; however, when you are researching information regarding a particular model that you are considering purchasing that no data is available. This is because both the IIHS and the NHTSA selects vehicles that are the most popular with buyers and have features that have been changed from the prior model. As a result vehicles that are carried over from the prior year without any major changes may not be tested.

Manufacturers often use the results of the crash tests for their marketing campaign; however, it is imperative to understand how these scores are calculated in order to understand exactly what they mean.

With the NHTSA front crash test, a dummy the size of an adult man is used in the driver seat in a simulated head-on crash at 35 miles per hour. Star rating scores are based on the percent of serious injury that would require immediate hospitalization and could be life-threatening to the head and chest. These scores are as follows:

5 stars-10 percent or less chance of injury
4 stars-11-20 percent chance of injury
3 stars-21-35 percent chance of injury
2 stars-36-45 percent chance of injury
1 star-46 percent or greater chance of injury

With the frontal IIHS test only one side of the front end of the vehicle is hit. The test car travels at 40 miles per hour. The IIHS test ranks with four scores: Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor. There is no correlation of injury as with the NHTS test.

At the current time only NHTSA conducts rollover tests. Scores are based on the percent chance of a rollover occurring.

5 Stars = 10 percent or less risk of rollover
4 Stars = 10-20 percent risk of rollover
3 Stars = 20-30 percent risk of rollover
2 Stars = 30-40 percent risk of rollover
1 Star = 40 percent or greater risk of rollover

While NHTSA is the only organization that conducts rollover tests, the IIHS is the only group that assesses rear crash protection. A rating range from Good to Poor is given based on the results of the test.

By taking the time to understand what crash test scores mean and how they are assessed you can begin making a more informed purchasing decision regarding your next vehicle.