The proposed new KNCAP frontal crash test based on the in-depth accident data

Today, new types of frontal crash test are under discussed, globally. While, on December 2015, The NHTSA finalized a new frontal oblique impact test protocol as USNCAP, EuroNCAP still considers a new mobile frontal crash test protocol on 2020 with THOR dummies. In Korea, despite of fatality reductions, frontal collision is considered the most sever accidents due to highest fatality ratio. With SUV, compatibility and small overlap issues were recently discussed as new KNCAP program. This paper focuses on the suitable types of frontal test protocol as a new frontal crash test method on KNCAP to evaluate compatibility issues and integrated vehicle safety technologies through the analyses of in depth accident KIDAS data. Research on benefits for new safety technologies requires significant amounts of objective data describing both occupant injury and real road accident data configurations. Recently, as part of research project, a pilot KIDAS (Korea In-Depth Accident Study) has been started to collect the detailed accident data. In this study, a total 258 cases of the frontal collisions were identified and analyzed. The study provides new insights to identify the patterns of the frontal collision accidents. Currently, Frontal crash tests of KNCAP represent more than 50% overlap of damaged frontal structure accidents. 108 of 258 cases were represent both small overlap and offset of frontal crash accidents which covers 42% of all frontal accidents from the KIDAS. 50 vehicles were impacted either 11 or 01 o'clock PDOF directions. From the KIDAS, 19% of all frontal impact were angled small overlap crash accidents. The majority of frontal damaged patterns were full-wrap type collisions. From the offset collisions, 33% of injury was scored MAIS 3+ severity. Updating offset test procedure will be needed to enhancement of frontal crash program of KNCAP.