Technical Paper
ANALYSIS OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED TO 50TH PERCENTILE MALE DUMMIES SITTING MID-TRACK AND 5TH PERCENTILE FEMALE DUMMIES SITTING FULL-FORWARD IN CRASH TESTS OF PAIRED VEHICLES WITH REDESIGNED AIR BAG SYSTEMS
2001-06-04
2001-06-0015
Historically, the United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 (FMVSS No. 208) has used 50th percentile male dummies seated in the mid-track position to evaluate occupant protection in frontal crashes. As a result of field investigations of air bag-related fatalities and serious injuries involving short-stature female drivers, more recent research has focused on improving crash protection using the 5th percentile female dummy in a full-forward seat position. A series of 48 kmph (30 mph) full frontal rigid barrier crash tests were conducted with belted and unbelted 5th percentile female dummies in the full-forward seat position of Model Year (MY) 1999 vehicles with redesigned air bags (certified to the FMVSS No. 208 sled test). Tests were also conducted using identical vehicles with the 50th percentile male dummies seated mid-track.