IIHS vs NHTSA - Vehicle Crash Data

 

Is there a difference between vehicle crash tests?

There are two sets of crash tests conducted on all vehicles sold in the U.S.A. They are conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Both conduct a battery of tests to determine vehicle and occupant safety worthiness in different accident scenarios.

To track the differences, the chart below breaks down which tests is conducted for vehicles and at which speeds they are tested at. 

	NHTSA	IIHS
Frontal Crash Test	35MPH
Side Impact Crash Test	38.5MPH into a 3,015 lb. Barrier	Yes
Side Pole Crash Test	20MPH at a 75-degree angle into a 25cm diameter pole
Rollover Test	Yes	Yes - emphasis on roof strength
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test		Yes
Moderate Overlap Frontal Crash Test		Yes
Head Restraints and Seat Testing		Yes

It is clear that both crash tests use different methodology to determine impact points around the vehicle. Their scoring systems are also different, since the NHTSA use a five-star rating and the IIHS has a four-step rating system - Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor.

However, neither testing agency does any rear impact testing. This would be critical in truly determining crash worthiness on any vehicle as most accidents usually impact a vehicle's rear end.

For more information on crash testing, log onto these websites:

NHTSA: //safercar.gov

IIHS: //www.iihs.org