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Crash Test Dummies

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From LesleyB, Featured Contributor
Posted on July 1, 2008

You know you want to look.

There's something compelling about crash test videos. They allow us to virtually rubberneck, without causing harm to anyone or anything other than a test dummy and car.

For instance, you wouldn't want to be riding shotgun (or anywhere) in this truck. I'm not sure what make or model this is, but I don't see it being a big seller anytime soon.

The smart fortwo fared comparatively much better in recent crash tests. There's been a lot of discussion recently about whether the car is safe enough for highway travel despite these test results.

Although gas prices have taken center stage recently, safety still ranks high among car shoppers. In the U.S. the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) writes and enforces safety standards for vehicles, among other things. They also develop crash test protocols, as well as the crash test dummies that occupy the seats during the test. Through the New Car Assessment Program, all new cars are rated for both crashes and rollovers. The cars with the highest performance receive 5 stars, which translates to a low probability of injury during a crash, and the lowest receive 1 star, which translates to a higher risk of injury. Ratings for the smartfortwo and others are available on automotive sites.

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LesleyB is a featured contributor for vLane.