December 15, 2011
115 winners of 2012 Top Safety Pick
Stronger roofs lead to another record year for award
Roof strength test for rollover protection:
Crushing device
In the Institute's roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush.
2012 Top Safety Pick vehicles on the crushing device
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Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2012 Honda Accord pre-test 11/4/11 |
Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2012 Volkswagen Passat pre-test 8/24/11 |
40 mph frontal offset test: 2012 Scion xD
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Pre-crash studio shot 10/20/11 |
Action shot taken during the Institute's frontal offset crash test 10/25/11 |
The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well. 10/25/11 |
A high head acceleration occurred when the dummy's head hit the steering wheel through the airbag. 10/25/11 |
Despite minimal intrusion into the driver footwell, forces on the right foot were just high enough to indicate the possibility of injuries. 10/25/11 |
40 mph frontal offset test: 2012 Chevrolet Volt
(Tested vehicle: 2011 Chevrolet Volt)
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Pre-crash studio shot 1/25/11 |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test 2/1/11 |
The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well. 2/1/11 |
Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head contacted the side curtain airbag during rebound. 2/1/11 |
Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low. 2/1/11 |
31 mph side impact test representing a strike from a pickup or SUV: 2012 Toyota Prius v
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Pre-crash studio shot 11/2/11 |
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test 11/15/11 |
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment 11/15/11 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag. 11/15/11 |
Greasepaint on the outside of the curtain airbag and on the window sill indicates that the airbag may not have inflated fully in time to prevent the dummy's head from moving past the airbag. 11/15/11 |
31 mph side impact test representing a strike from a pickup or SUV: 2012 Ford Fiesta
(Tested vehicle: 2011 Ford Fiesta, models mfd. after July 2010)
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Pre-crash studio shot 7/28/10 |
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test 8/10/10 |
View of the vehicle after the crash with door removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment 8/10/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag. 8/10/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy's head was protected by the side airbag. 8/10/10 |
31 mph side impact test representing a strike from a pickup or SUV: 2012 Nissan Leaf
(Tested vehicle: 2011 Nissan Leaf)
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Pre-crash studio shot 2/22/11 |
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test 3/3/11 |
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment 3/3/11 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags. 3/3/11 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag. 3/3/11 |
Sled test for rear crash protection: 2012 Toyota Camry
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Shot of the dummy and the seat/head restraint just before the sled test LOW RESOLUTION STILL FROM DIGITAL VIDEO 11/2/11 |
