On May 21, 1979, the first NHTSA crash test was done, with the first results being released on October 15, 1979. The test involved a 35 mph crash test into a wall, with dummies representing an average sized adult buckled up into each front seat. At first, testing results were released as a "pass/fail" system - vehicles "passed" if their head injury criteria (HIC) were below 1000 and chest decelerations were below 60 G's for both front occupants.
Please remember, it is only crash test dummies being used in these tests.
Guidelines:
HIC >1000 and/or Chest G's >60 = Serious Injury Likely
HIC >1800 and/or Chest G's >90 = Death Likely
1979
This was the first year of the NHTSA crash test program.
In 1979, 25 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1223 and average passenger HIC of 1313 and chest deceleration of 57.3 G's for the driver and 48.2 G's for the passenger. Due to data failures, reliable information is only available for 20 drivers and 21 passengers.
Just 45% of drivers and 48% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 30% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 15% of drivers and 33% of passengers, with 15% of vehicles carrying the dubious honor of having both occupant fatalities.
The tests were done extraordinarily late, although this can be forgiven because the crash test program began in May; performed from May 21, 1979 to August 27, 1980 with an average date of August 14, 1979.
HICs of the 41 occupants ranged from 429 to 4,611 (yes, the Peugeot 504 was THAT terrible... STAY AWAY!!!) and chest G's ranged from 33 to 93 G's.
1980
The performance of the 1980 vehicles slightly worsened relative to 1979.
In 1980, 22 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1330 and average passenger HIC of 1364 and chest deceleration of 58.1 G's for the driver and 46.3 G's for the passenger. Due to data failures, reliable information is only available for 20 drivers and 20 passengers.
Just 25% of drivers and 30% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 25% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 20% of drivers and 15% of passengers, with 10% of vehicles killing both occupants.
The tests were done very late; performed from October 15, 1979 to November 24, 1980 with an average date of May 31, 1980.
HICs of the 40 occupants ranged from 523 to 3,063, and chest G's ranged from 34 to 101 G's.
1981
The performance of the 1981 vehicles improved impressively relative to 1980.
In 1981, 13 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1207 and average passenger HIC of 1005 and chest decelerations of 52.3 G's for the driver and 41.5 G's for the passenger. I am happy to report no data failures this year, and there was major improvement. However, test results this year were still at a poor level.
Just 46% of drivers and 54% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 31% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 15% of drivers and no passengers. No vehicles killed both occupants this year.
The tests were done very late; performed from October 10, 1980 to December 16, 1982 (!), with an average date of June 26, 1981. There was a major outlier in the data; it would have been May 12, 1981 if not for the December 16, 1982 test.
HICs of the 26 occupants ranged from 492 to 2,634, and chest G's ranged from 32 to 69 G's.
1982
More impressive yardage gained in safety with the 1982 crop of vehicles.
In 1982, 28 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1055 and average passenger HIC of 935 and chest decelerations of 47.3 G's for the driver and 39.7 G's for the passenger. Despite this being the largest test program to date, there were no data failures, and test results were quickly moving in the right direction.
61% of drivers and 64% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 43% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 11% of drivers and 4% of passengers, with 4% of vehicles (one vehicle, the Renault Fuego) killing both occupants.
The tests were done extraordinarily late; performed from June 18, 1981 to March 24, 1983 (!), with an average date of July 24, 1982. Five tests were done in winter 1982/1983.
HICs of the 56 occupants ranged from 381 to 3,768, and chest G's ranged from 22 to 69 G's.
1983
A year with an ever-so-slight backslide.
In 1983, 23 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 968 and average passenger HIC of 1035 and chest decelerations of 54.8 G's for the driver and 45.9 G's for the passenger. No data failures.
Just 52% of drivers and 43% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 30% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were no drivers and 4% of passengers. No vehicles killed both occupants.
The tests were done very late; performed from January 12, 1983 to September 27, 1983, with an average date of June 21, 1983.
HICs of the 46 occupants ranged from 376 to 1,934, and chest G's ranged from 32 to 82 G's.
1984
Back on the right track.
In 1984, 38 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 983 and average passenger HIC of 960 and chest decelerations of 48.3 G's for the driver and 42.4 G's for the passenger.
66% of drivers and 50% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 45% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 11% of drivers and 8% of passengers, with 3% of vehicles (one vehicle, the Renault Sportwagon) killing both occupants.
The tests were done a little late; performed from June 15, 1983 to July 2, 1984, with an average date of February 7, 1984.
HICs of the 76 occupants ranged from 308 to 2,721, and chest G's ranged from 28 to 87 G's.
1985
A one-year "acid bath".
In 1985, 30 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1281 and average passenger HIC of 1070 and chest decelerations of 49.9 G's for the driver and 42.1 G's for the passenger.
Just 37% of drivers and 57% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 27% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 17% of drivers and 7% of passengers. Somehow, no vehicles killed both occupants.
The tests were done late; performed from May 31, 1984 to June 26, 1985, with an average date of March 17, 1985.
HICs of the 60 occupants ranged from 262 to 2,678, and chest G's ranged from 27 to 70 G's.
1986
Results climb out of the bath with the best year of this segment. Over half of vehicles passed.
In 1986, 27 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 973 and average passenger HIC of 959 and chest decelerations of 49.7 G's for the driver and 40.0 G's for the passenger.
59% of drivers and 70% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 56% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 4% of drivers and 4% of passengers. No vehicles killed both occupants.
The tests were done late; performed from June 4, 1985 to June 18, 1986, with an average date of March 21, 1986.
HICs of the 54 occupants ranged from 430 to 2,662, and chest G's ranged from 27 to 73 G's.
During 1979-1986 there was a marked improvement in NHTSA test scores. Test results had gone from poor to mediocre. But there was still a lot of work to do.
Happy birthday, NHTSA crash testing program!
Please remember, it is only crash test dummies being used in these tests.
Guidelines:
HIC >1000 and/or Chest G's >60 = Serious Injury Likely
HIC >1800 and/or Chest G's >90 = Death Likely
1979
This was the first year of the NHTSA crash test program.
In 1979, 25 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1223 and average passenger HIC of 1313 and chest deceleration of 57.3 G's for the driver and 48.2 G's for the passenger. Due to data failures, reliable information is only available for 20 drivers and 21 passengers.
Just 45% of drivers and 48% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 30% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 15% of drivers and 33% of passengers, with 15% of vehicles carrying the dubious honor of having both occupant fatalities.
The tests were done extraordinarily late, although this can be forgiven because the crash test program began in May; performed from May 21, 1979 to August 27, 1980 with an average date of August 14, 1979.
HICs of the 41 occupants ranged from 429 to 4,611 (yes, the Peugeot 504 was THAT terrible... STAY AWAY!!!) and chest G's ranged from 33 to 93 G's.
1980
The performance of the 1980 vehicles slightly worsened relative to 1979.
In 1980, 22 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1330 and average passenger HIC of 1364 and chest deceleration of 58.1 G's for the driver and 46.3 G's for the passenger. Due to data failures, reliable information is only available for 20 drivers and 20 passengers.
Just 25% of drivers and 30% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 25% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 20% of drivers and 15% of passengers, with 10% of vehicles killing both occupants.
The tests were done very late; performed from October 15, 1979 to November 24, 1980 with an average date of May 31, 1980.
HICs of the 40 occupants ranged from 523 to 3,063, and chest G's ranged from 34 to 101 G's.
1981
The performance of the 1981 vehicles improved impressively relative to 1980.
In 1981, 13 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1207 and average passenger HIC of 1005 and chest decelerations of 52.3 G's for the driver and 41.5 G's for the passenger. I am happy to report no data failures this year, and there was major improvement. However, test results this year were still at a poor level.
Just 46% of drivers and 54% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 31% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 15% of drivers and no passengers. No vehicles killed both occupants this year.
The tests were done very late; performed from October 10, 1980 to December 16, 1982 (!), with an average date of June 26, 1981. There was a major outlier in the data; it would have been May 12, 1981 if not for the December 16, 1982 test.
HICs of the 26 occupants ranged from 492 to 2,634, and chest G's ranged from 32 to 69 G's.
1982
More impressive yardage gained in safety with the 1982 crop of vehicles.
In 1982, 28 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1055 and average passenger HIC of 935 and chest decelerations of 47.3 G's for the driver and 39.7 G's for the passenger. Despite this being the largest test program to date, there were no data failures, and test results were quickly moving in the right direction.
61% of drivers and 64% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 43% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 11% of drivers and 4% of passengers, with 4% of vehicles (one vehicle, the Renault Fuego) killing both occupants.
The tests were done extraordinarily late; performed from June 18, 1981 to March 24, 1983 (!), with an average date of July 24, 1982. Five tests were done in winter 1982/1983.
HICs of the 56 occupants ranged from 381 to 3,768, and chest G's ranged from 22 to 69 G's.
1983
A year with an ever-so-slight backslide.
In 1983, 23 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 968 and average passenger HIC of 1035 and chest decelerations of 54.8 G's for the driver and 45.9 G's for the passenger. No data failures.
Just 52% of drivers and 43% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 30% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were no drivers and 4% of passengers. No vehicles killed both occupants.
The tests were done very late; performed from January 12, 1983 to September 27, 1983, with an average date of June 21, 1983.
HICs of the 46 occupants ranged from 376 to 1,934, and chest G's ranged from 32 to 82 G's.
1984
Back on the right track.
In 1984, 38 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 983 and average passenger HIC of 960 and chest decelerations of 48.3 G's for the driver and 42.4 G's for the passenger.
66% of drivers and 50% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 45% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 11% of drivers and 8% of passengers, with 3% of vehicles (one vehicle, the Renault Sportwagon) killing both occupants.
The tests were done a little late; performed from June 15, 1983 to July 2, 1984, with an average date of February 7, 1984.
HICs of the 76 occupants ranged from 308 to 2,721, and chest G's ranged from 28 to 87 G's.
1985
A one-year "acid bath".
In 1985, 30 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 1281 and average passenger HIC of 1070 and chest decelerations of 49.9 G's for the driver and 42.1 G's for the passenger.
Just 37% of drivers and 57% of passengers would escape without serious injury; only 27% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 17% of drivers and 7% of passengers. Somehow, no vehicles killed both occupants.
The tests were done late; performed from May 31, 1984 to June 26, 1985, with an average date of March 17, 1985.
HICs of the 60 occupants ranged from 262 to 2,678, and chest G's ranged from 27 to 70 G's.
1986
Results climb out of the bath with the best year of this segment. Over half of vehicles passed.
In 1986, 27 vehicles were tested, with an average driver HIC of 973 and average passenger HIC of 959 and chest decelerations of 49.7 G's for the driver and 40.0 G's for the passenger.
59% of drivers and 70% of passengers would escape without serious injury; 56% of vehicles spared both occupants.
Fatally injured were 4% of drivers and 4% of passengers. No vehicles killed both occupants.
The tests were done late; performed from June 4, 1985 to June 18, 1986, with an average date of March 21, 1986.
HICs of the 54 occupants ranged from 430 to 2,662, and chest G's ranged from 27 to 73 G's.
During 1979-1986 there was a marked improvement in NHTSA test scores. Test results had gone from poor to mediocre. But there was still a lot of work to do.
Happy birthday, NHTSA crash testing program!
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