This post came about as a result of a typo. While looking up data for an upcoming post (that involves downloading hundreds of NHTSA test reports) I accidentally put in "2675" for a test number instead of "2676" (Don't worry, I got the data I needed from 2676 as well). The description was interesting - 40% offset crash test with 5th percentile female ATDs. What's a "5th percentile female ATD?" It's a crash test dummy designed to be the size of a 5th percentile female (an adult woman that's smaller than 95% of adult women) or an average 12-year-old child.
It's a scary sounding scenario. A 12 year old size driver, 38 mph, 40% offset, 1996 Ford Taurus.
Luckily, the Taurus was a stellar performer in crash tests then. Out of 18 vehicles IIHS crash tested for the 1996 model year in a nearly identical scenario (40 mph, 40% offset, same deformable barrier), the Taurus was one of only two "Good" performers.
The Taurus proved to be very capable of protecting the pint-sized dummies. The driver's HIC was 86, with 23 G's exerted on the chest. Low femur forces (2.9 kN). Moderately low neck forces of around 1.8 kN. Chest compression of 0.65 inches.
Even considering the size of the dummy, these forces are pretty low. These injury measures indicate a probable minor neck injury. The highest head and chest forces were recorded when the inflating airbag hit the dummy. The airbag's forceful impact would inflict minor to moderate injuries on its own, possibly including abrasions, bruising, maybe even a broken nose. Keep in mind that this is a "First Generation" airbag - it deployed at the same force regardless of any conditions.
For comparison, the driver in the IIHS test, a "50th percentile male" - a crash test dummy designed to be the size of the average adult male, 5'10 and 170 lbs - recorded a HIC of 475, 31 chest G's, 4.6 kN femur forces, and 1.42 inches chest compression. However, neck forces of 1.4 kN were lower for the 50th percentile male than the 5th percentile female. And of course, airbag impact was much lighter, indicating that the bag would probably only inflict superficial injury, such as minor abrasions or bruising.
Also, the 50th percentile male can withstand higher crash forces; for instance, a HIC of 475 on a 50th percentile male would be less severe than the equivalent HIC on a 5th percentile male. The forces that were higher on the 50th percentile male would still only be likely to cause very minor injury, whereas the neck force would make a larger difference - 1.8 kN on a 5th percentile female, while still unlikely to produce serious injury, are significantly more severe than 1.4 kN on a 50th percentile male - a force that is likely not to produce neck injury.
The results of this test would seem to indicate that the 1996 Ford Taurus provides adequate protection to a 5th percentile dummy with the seat in the full-forward position, but the 50th percentile dummy positioned at a safe distance from the airbag fares significantly better. It seemed that in the test with the smaller dummy, the restraint system had insufficient room for optimal functioning. Newer, less aggressive airbags would be expected to provide better protection for the 5th percentile dummy in the full-forward seating position, but the recommendation stands: regardless of your size, if you can get at least 12 inches from the steering wheel, you will be better protected from airbag and crash injury regardless of your size. 10 inches is enough in many vehicles equipped with "advanced" airbags. If you can't reach this distance, every inch counts: you're a lot better off at 9 inches than 3.
It's a scary sounding scenario. A 12 year old size driver, 38 mph, 40% offset, 1996 Ford Taurus.
Luckily, the Taurus was a stellar performer in crash tests then. Out of 18 vehicles IIHS crash tested for the 1996 model year in a nearly identical scenario (40 mph, 40% offset, same deformable barrier), the Taurus was one of only two "Good" performers.
The Taurus proved to be very capable of protecting the pint-sized dummies. The driver's HIC was 86, with 23 G's exerted on the chest. Low femur forces (2.9 kN). Moderately low neck forces of around 1.8 kN. Chest compression of 0.65 inches.
Even considering the size of the dummy, these forces are pretty low. These injury measures indicate a probable minor neck injury. The highest head and chest forces were recorded when the inflating airbag hit the dummy. The airbag's forceful impact would inflict minor to moderate injuries on its own, possibly including abrasions, bruising, maybe even a broken nose. Keep in mind that this is a "First Generation" airbag - it deployed at the same force regardless of any conditions.
For comparison, the driver in the IIHS test, a "50th percentile male" - a crash test dummy designed to be the size of the average adult male, 5'10 and 170 lbs - recorded a HIC of 475, 31 chest G's, 4.6 kN femur forces, and 1.42 inches chest compression. However, neck forces of 1.4 kN were lower for the 50th percentile male than the 5th percentile female. And of course, airbag impact was much lighter, indicating that the bag would probably only inflict superficial injury, such as minor abrasions or bruising.
Also, the 50th percentile male can withstand higher crash forces; for instance, a HIC of 475 on a 50th percentile male would be less severe than the equivalent HIC on a 5th percentile male. The forces that were higher on the 50th percentile male would still only be likely to cause very minor injury, whereas the neck force would make a larger difference - 1.8 kN on a 5th percentile female, while still unlikely to produce serious injury, are significantly more severe than 1.4 kN on a 50th percentile male - a force that is likely not to produce neck injury.
The results of this test would seem to indicate that the 1996 Ford Taurus provides adequate protection to a 5th percentile dummy with the seat in the full-forward position, but the 50th percentile dummy positioned at a safe distance from the airbag fares significantly better. It seemed that in the test with the smaller dummy, the restraint system had insufficient room for optimal functioning. Newer, less aggressive airbags would be expected to provide better protection for the 5th percentile dummy in the full-forward seating position, but the recommendation stands: regardless of your size, if you can get at least 12 inches from the steering wheel, you will be better protected from airbag and crash injury regardless of your size. 10 inches is enough in many vehicles equipped with "advanced" airbags. If you can't reach this distance, every inch counts: you're a lot better off at 9 inches than 3.
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