Side collision

A side collision is a vehicle crash where the side of one or more vehicles is impacted. These crashes typically occur at intersections, in parking lots, and when two vehicles pass on a multi-lane roadway.

A crash test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows the damage to a compact Ford Focus struck by a Ford Explorer SUV

Side impact NCAP test of a 2007 Saturn Outlook.

This NHTSA collision test shows what happens when a Volkswagen New Beetle slides sideways into a utility pole or a tree.

Two cars are involved in a side collision at an intersection in Tokyo, Japan

Occurrences and effects

A 2016 study found that, in the EU, side impact collisions were significantly less common than frontal impact collisions, at rates of 22-29% and 61-69% respectively.^[1] However, they tend to be much more dangerous. Another report commissioned by the EU in 2015 found that side impacts accounted for roughly 35-40% of passenger fatality and serious injury, as opposed to 55% attributed to head-on collisions. ^[2] A likely contributor to this fact is the amount of protection offered by the struck vehicle. Even when equipped with the safest cars on the road, these casualties occurred at much lower speeds than in head-on collisions, with passenger fatality and serious injury typically occurring at 50 km/h (~31 mph) in side impact collisions, as opposed to 70 km/h (~43 mph) for frontal impacts.^[2] Additionally, side impacts tend to affect more vulnerable areas of the body. While front and rear impacts typically produced the most serious injuries in the lower extremities (legs and feet), side impacts typically resulted in most serious injuries in the head and chest regions.^[1]

In 2008, a total of 5,265 (22%) out of 23,888 people were killed in vehicles which were struck in the side in the United States.^[3]

For European motorcyclists, side impact is the second most frequent location of impact.^[1]

For European cyclists, thorax injuries are associated with side-impact injuries in urban areas and/or at junctions.^[1]

In several European countries, such as the UK, Sweden, and France, around one quarter of traffic injuries are produced by side collisions, but accounted for 29 to 38% of injuries which were fatal.^[4]

In European vehicle side impact, 60% of casualties were "struck side", while 40% were "non struck side", in 2018.^[4]

Fatal casualties count as 50% and 67% in UK and in France, in 2010^[4]

Also, side collision are not well managed with child restraints which are not enough taking into account the movement of the child's head and prevent contact with the car's interior.^[4]

For light vans and minibuses in 2000 in UK and Germany, between 14% and 26% of accidents with passenger cars were side impacts.^[4]

In Shanghai, in China, 23% of the 1097 serious accidents occurred between June 2005 and March 2013 are side impact accidents, there the leading collision mode, according to the Shanghai United Road Traffic Safety Scientific Research Center (SHUFO) database.^[5] The head and neck are involved in around 64% of the casualties.^[5]

Broadside or T-bone collision

A Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor with damage consistent with a side collision

Broadside collisions are where the side of one vehicle is impacted by the front or rear of another vehicle, forming a "T". In the United States and Canada this collision type is also known as a right-angle collision or T-bone collision; it is also sometimes referred to by the abbreviation "AABS" for "auto accident, broadside".^[6] Vehicle damage and occupant injury are more likely to be severe, but severity varies based on the part of the vehicle that is struck, safety features present, the speeds of both vehicles, and vehicle weight and construction.

When a vehicle is hit on the side by another vehicle, the crumple zones of the striking vehicle will absorb some of the kinetic energy of the collision. The crumple zones of the struck vehicle may also absorb some of the collision's energy, particularly if the vehicle is not struck on its passenger compartment. Both vehicles are frequently turned from their original directions of travel. If the collision is severe, the struck vehicle may be spun or rolled over, potentially causing it to strike other vehicles, objects, or pedestrians. After the collision, the involved vehicles may be stuck together by the folding of their parts around each other.

An occupant on the struck side of a vehicle may sustain far more severe injuries than an otherwise similar front or rear collision crash.

Side-impact airbags can protect vehicle occupants during side collisions, but they face the same limitations as other airbags. Additionally, side impact wrecks are more likely to involve multiple individual collisions or sudden speed changes before motion ceases. Since the airbag can only provide protection during the first collision, it may leave occupants unprotected during subsequent collisions in the crash. However, the first collision in a crash typically has the most severe forces, so an effective airbag provides maximum benefit during the most severe portion of a crash.

Broadside collisions are frequently caused by a failure to yield right of way. In the case of collisions in an intersection, the cause is often a result of one vehicle failing to obey traffic signals (fail to stop or running past a red light). As with any crash, increased speed may increase crash severity.

Testing

Euro NCAP, IIHS and NHTSA test side impacts in different ways. As of 2015^[update], they all test vehicle-to-vehicle side impacts,^[7][8] where heavier vehicles have lower fatality rates than lighter vehicles.^[9]

NHTSA and Euro NCAP also test the more severe vehicle-into-pole side impacts,^[10] where smaller vehicles have the same fatality rate as larger vehicles.^[9]

Newer cars have improved safety in case of front crashes, but side impacts can also be deadly; about 9,700 people were killed in side impacts in the US in 2004.^[11] Side airbags became mandatory in 2009 in the US, saving an estimated 1,000 lives per year. ^[12] Research indicates that the vehicle's underbody is the best place to reinforce structures to reduce intrusion by the pole. ^[13]

General list of side impacts

A side collision in Toronto

These are lists of cars with notable aspects of side impact.

List of cars after 2011

The NHTSA results are evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration using Office of Crashworthiness Standards, New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) Side Impact Laboratory Test Procedure^[14] and Side Impact Rigid Pole Laboratory Test Procedure^[15] to display a simple star-rating. The "primary purpose of the NCAP side impact program is to provide comparative vehicle side protection information to assist consumers in making vehicle purchase decisions, thereby providing an incentive for vehicle manufacturers to design safer vehicles."^[15]

The IIHS results are evaluated by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety using their protocols.^[16][17]

This list shows the most notable of newer tested vehicles tested via NHTSA and IIHS. Some provide good protection, some less so, and some developed improved safety in response to a low result (Dodge Ram and Fiat 500). Some are common examples of their type.

Sorted roughly by rating, Head injury criterion (HIC) and Crush.

Side impact safety of newer cars (from 2011–present), by NHTSA and IIHS. Click <> to sort by parameter.

Year [N 1]	Manufacturer	Model	Type	Number produced [N 2]	Impactor (MDB) into Vehicle[N 3]			Vehicle into pole				Comment	IIHS side rating	Euro NCAP side rating
					Maximum Crush[N 4]	HIC [N 5]	Rating [N 6]	Maximum Crush	HIC	RLSA[N 7]	Rating
2014		Jeep Wrangler	SUV	1 million[18]	mm		—[19]	mm		g	—		Poor[20][21]	—
2012	Chrysler	200[22]	Mid		202 mm	[23]		392 mm	1987	51 g[24]		Head injury criterion above threshold.	Good[25]	—
2015	Toyota	Hilux/Tacoma[26]	Truck	5+ million[27]	305 mm	125+292[28]		516 mm	451	57 g[29]
2013	Fiat	500[30]	Supermini	1+ million[31]	164 mm	166+382[32]		354 mm	224	54 g[33]		MDB: Pelvic force and pax RLSA within threshold.	Good[34]	—
2012	Fiat	500[35]	Supermini		160 mm	127+410[36]		354 mm	224	54 g[33]		MDB: Pax pelvic force over threshold, and RLSA near.
2013	Dodge	Ram 1500[37]	Truck		365 mm	16+30[38]		603 mm	483	48 g[39]		All parameters within limits.	—[40]	—
2011	Dodge	Ram 1500[41]	Truck		mm			462 mm	519	87 g[42]		Pole Test: Pelvic force and RLSA over threshold.
2014	Mercedes-Benz	E-Class[43]	Sedan		129 mm	92+244[44]		343 mm	492	53 g[45]		Pole Test: Pelvic force 4770 N of a threshold of 5525 N
2012	Chrysler	Town & Country[46]	Minivan		298 mm	51+135[47]		389 mm	294	47 g[48]		Pole Test: Pelvic force 3503 N of a threshold of 5525 N	Good[49]	—
2014	Audi	Q5[50]	CUV		188 mm	59+166[51]		467 mm	253	54 g[52]
2011	Volvo	XC60[53]	CUV	½ million[54]	170 mm	60+231[55]		462 mm	242	45 g[56]
Year	Manufacturer	Model	Type	Produced	mm			mm		g		Comment	Good

1. Model Year of car crash-tested, not year of Overall Rating. Older crash tests usually carry over to newer car models; easily checked by comparing ratings and document numbers for different years.
2. Number of cars produced of this model.
3. Also known as Moving Deformable Barrier.
4. Free space left after impact.
5. Head Injury Criteria (HIC36) has a threshold of 1000; lower is better. MDB HIC shows front+rear seat of impact side.
6. Side Barrier Rating, combines front and rear seats.
7. RLSA=Resultant Lower Spine Acceleration, measured in g-force. Detract rating over 50g. Threshold is 82g.

Limits are:^[14][15]
Moving Deformable Barrier (MDB): HIC max. 1000, Chest injury max. 44mm, abdominal injury max. 2500 Newton, pelvis injury max. 6000 N. There are additional limits for passenger similar to pole test.
Rigid Pole: HIC max. 1000, Lower Spine acceleration max. 82g, Pelvis sum max. 5525 N

List of cars before 2011

Sorted roughly by rating.

Side impact safety of older cars (before 2011) by NHTSA, IIHS and Euro NCAP.
Click <> to sort by parameter.

Year [M 1]	Manufacturer	Model	Type	Number produced [M 2]	NHTSA rating	IIHS side rating	Euro NCAP side rating	Comment
2003-2006	Ford	Crown Victoria	Full-size		[57]	Poor[58][11]	—	Structure rated "Poor"
2008-2015		Jeep Wrangler	SUV	1 million[18]	—[19]	Poor[20][21]	—	Structure rated "Acceptable"
2004	Mitsubishi	Galant	Sedan		[59]	Poor[60]		2005 with airbag is Good at IIHS
Year	Manufacturer	Model	Type	Produced		Good		—

1. Model Year of car crash-tested, not year of Overall Rating. Older crash tests usually carry over to newer car models; easily checked by comparing ratings and document numbers for different years.
2. Number of cars produced of this model.

See also

• Road collision types
• Side Impact Protection System (SIPS)