They may look similar, but a crash-test dummy is much more than a store mannequin.
They may look similar, but a crash-test dummy is much more than a store mannequin.
They can cost up to $1.4 million each, are filled with complex sensors and have a life span of about 20 years.
It’s a tough gig enduring crash after crash, but their role at ANCAP Safety is critical in helping provide accurate safety information to motorists in the market for a new car.
ANCAP Safety CEO Carla Hoorweg. Photo Dave Patttinson.
To witness a day in the life of a crash test dummy, RACQ was invited to Crashlab in Huntingwood, Sydney – the laboratory ANCAP uses to test and rate cars.
Our day began with a classroom crash course by ANCAP Safety CEO Carla Hoorweg to learn what it takes for a car to earn a five-star safety rating.
“There are up to seven physical or destructive crash tests that ANCAP conducts as part of a star rating.
The vehicles from four of these tests are destroyed,” Ms Hoorweg said.
Our day began with a classroom crash course by ANCAP Safety CEO Carla Hoorweg to learn what it takes for a car to earn a five-star safety rating.
“There are up to seven physical or destructive crash tests that ANCAP conducts as part of a star rating.
The vehicles from four of these tests are destroyed,” Ms Hoorweg said.
The tests are designed to simulate common crash types, including two variations of a head-on collision, a T-bone crash and also a car sliding into a tree or pole.
A fifth vehicle is used to carry out safety assist performance tests to assess the car’s emergency braking systems, lane support systems, automatic emergency steering and speed assistance systems.
The bonnet of the vehicle is also tested to see how it would impact vulnerable road users in a car crash involving a pedestrian or cyclist.
It takes between one and three months to complete the testing, analysis and rating of a single vehicle.
In the past couple of years, ANCAP has also added tests to assess a car’s ability to avoid collisions with a motorcycle and detect if a child has been left in a locked car.
We are continually raising the bar in terms of the testing that we do
"That’s not just about the particular tests, but also the standard to which we’re testing.”
With our knowledge tanks filled to the brim, it was time to put the theory into practice. On the day that we toured the Crashlab, it was the new Toyota Camry’s turn to be put under the microscope.
And when I say ‘put under the microscope’ I mean launched down an indoor runway at 50km/h into a specially designed 1,400kg trolley (simulating another car) that was travelling at 50km/h in the opposite direction to simulate a head-on collision.
But before the crash test, we visited the temperature-controlled preparation room which is situated behind a garage door at one end of the runway.
This is where the dummies are fitted into the car with absolute precision and have their sensors activated.
For this test ANCAP used four different dummies: A ‘Thor’ adult dummy in the driver seat, a ‘Hybrid III 50th Percentile’ adult dummy in the passenger seat, and two small dummies in child restraints in the back seats, representing six and 10-year-olds.
With everything set, we made our way down the runway and up into the viewing platform, which is basically a glass gantry straddling the runway and overlooking the crash zone.
Lights, cameras, action. The garage door was lifted to reveal the Toyota Camry at the end of the runway and a few moments later it began hurtling towards the crash zone while the trolley was pulled down the opposing runway.
The impact was almost overwhelming.
The force of the collision rippled through the air and up into the viewing platform.
It was a palpable wave of energy that resonated deep in my chest, triggering adrenaline to pump around my body and my heart to race.
The sickening sound of crunching metal was soon followed by an eery ringing and then silence.
Soon after the carnage was deemed safe, the crash zone was swamped by ANCAP’s engineers beginning the assessment. The Toyota Camry passed with flying colours, receiving five out of five stars for safety.
The Toyota Camry after its crash test. Photo Dave Pattinson.
ANCAP said the Toyota Camry demonstrated strong results in crash testing, most notably with a record high score of 95% for Adult Occupant Protection. This score sets the Camry ahead of all other models within this pillar of assessment.
Since 1992, ANCAP has tested more than 1,000 cars. The advice to consumers is to look for a car with a five-star rating and the latest testing date stamp.
RACQ’s Road Safety and Technical Manager Joel Tucker said a five-star ANCAP Safety rating should be at the top of the priority list for motorists in the market.
“Safety features in new cars are getting better and better,” Mr Tucker said.
“Buying a car with the most advanced safety features you can afford could potentially save your life or the lives of your loved ones.”
