Vehicles With The Biggest Difference in Driver and Passenger Protection in the NHTSA 35-MPH Full Frontal Crash Test
Here are the three vehicles with the biggest difference in injury risk in favor of the driver, as well as for the passenger.
When the Driver Did Better
1990 Chrysler LeBaron - 7% driver risk, 91% passenger risk. - 84% difference
Driver: 298 HIC / 40 Chest G, Passenger: 2,043 HIC / 47 Chest G
The driver airbag prevented injury to the driver dummy, while the passenger head struck the dashboard and its own right knee, producing fatal head injury levels. The structure performed well with little intrusion into the occupant space, suggesting that it was insufficient seat belt restraint for the passenger.
1990 Chrysler Imperial - 11% driver risk, 92% passenger risk - 81% difference
Driver: 517 HIC / 43 Chest G, Passenger: 2,132 HIC / 56 Chest G
The driver airbag protected the driver dummy, while the passenger head struck the dashboard with extreme force. Again, good structure, insufficient seat belt restraint.
1994 Buick Regal - 12% driver risk, 91% passenger risk - 79% difference
Driver: 503 HIC / 44 Chest G, Passenger: 2,044 HIC / 49 Chest G
Driver airbag, but no passenger airbag? Check. Good structural performance? Check. Insufficient seat belt restraint? Check. Just like the LeBaron, the passenger dummy struck the dashboard and its own right knee, producing extremely high injury measures.
In summation, it is likely that all three of these vehicles would have performed well if they were equipped with dual airbags.
When the Passenger Did Better
1985 Dodge Lancer - 93% driver risk, 5% passenger risk - 88% difference
Driver: 2,187 HIC / 38 Chest G, Passenger: 444 HIC / 30 Chest G
Of all the 1985 vehicles tested, the Lancer's passenger did second-best of all passengers, only behind the Volvo 240, while the driver was second-worst. Although the structural performance was otherwise good, moderate upward movement of the steering column caused the driver's head to hit the steering wheel hub in a "just right" manner to cause maximum injury. The passenger's head did not strike anything. A driver airbag could have made a massive difference in this vehicle's performance.
1982 Chrysler LeBaron - 99% driver risk, 14% passenger risk - 85% difference
Driver: 2,644 HIC / 37 Chest G, Passenger: 697 HIC / 44 Chest G
While no report is available, the duration of the HIC calculation - 81-83 milliseconds, a 2 millisecond duration, while HIC is typically calculated for 36 - suggests an extremely sharp head impact with the steering wheel.
1985 Audi 5000 - 91% driver risk, 7% passenger risk - 84% difference
Driver: 2,105 HIC / 39 Chest G, Passenger: 557 HIC / 31 Chest G
Somewhat surprisingly, a later (1989) version of this car (renamed to the 100) had a HIC of only 185 and 35 chest G's (a 4% risk), which was the best performance ever recorded for a driver at that time; the "C3" generation of the Audi 5000/100 was made from the 1983-1991 model years, but the 1989 had the Procon-ten system as well as a driver airbag. The 1985 Audi's structural performance was good, except for upward movement of the steering wheel, which caused the fatally high forces on the driver's head. Procon-ten retracts the steering column out of the way and tightens the seat belts; a 1989 Audi 80, with Procon-ten but no airbag, did well, so the addition of the airbag caused the performance to be even better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n104cDjvcM
Questionable data:
1981 Mazda GLC - 99% driver risk, 14/48% passenger risk - 85/51% difference
Driver: 2,634 HIC / 62 Chest G, Passenger: 786 or 1,373 HIC / 39 Chest G
Structural problems contributed to the extremely high loads on the driver; the A-pillars were buckled and doors jammed. Severe upward movement of the steering wheel caused the driver's head and chest to strike it in a manner that prevented the collapsible steering column from functioning. Note that the HIC recorded in the report is 1,373, but on the database itself is 786. The passenger's head struck the dashboard, which would cause some risk of injury.
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