What is a "crash test"?

What is a "crash test"?

James Bell (Publisher, Auto Reviewer) gives expert video advice on: How are crash tests conducted?; Where would I find crash test results on specific vehicles? and more...

With regards to vehicle safety ratings, a crash test is a process done by a governmental or insurance institute that is going to test the vehicle in a very controlled circumstance. A crash test uses high speed film to monitor the actual impact to see what sorts of things happen at a very high rate of speed to identify how the vehicle responds. The crash test may show that the structure is such that a lot of the impact's energy is shifted away from the passenger or driver and into other parts of the vehicle. It may show the engine having a tendency to come into the passenger compartment in a head on accident. It may show whether people in the passenger seat end up getting hit by structure of the vehicle in a side impact. Therefore crash tests look at how the vehicle actually responds in an accident which is a very common problem on our highways today.