Abstract
The side impact test in the Korean New Car Assessment Program (KNCAP) has been conducted since 2003. Considering the test results at the beginning stage, the side impact test method has been contributed to the improvement of the vehicle side structure and the enhancement of the occupant protection performance for the domestic vehicles. The pole side impact test based on the EuroNCAP will be conducted in the KNCAP from 2010 to enhance the head protection under the various side crash environments. The pole side impact test will be optional that the score from the test be added to the overall rating score. The score is calculated by the HIC36 of the driver side EuroSID-2. The test results for four vehicles conducted in the research program showed that the head and the chest injury rates were very severe. All the dummy head of the vehicles were directly impacted into the pole. To reduce the fatalities and the injuries due to the car-to-pole side impact, at the current stage, the side airbag or the curtain airbag for the head protection would be indispensable.
Keywords: NCAP, Pole Side Impact, Head Injury, Chest Injury, HIC36