Mr Versmissen presented a summary of the APROSYS car-to-pole side impact research activities (PSI-02-09), which noted that there were around 10,000 car occupant fatalities in side impact crashes in Europe annually. APROSYS had compared full-scale oblique and perpendicular pole side impact test results and had also used computer simulation to investigate the influence of impact speed, impact angle, pole diameter and impact alignment.

Mr Versmissen stated that the APROSYS group had expressed a preference for a perpendicular impact angle, mainly because of oblique rib loading concerns, but that there was no major objection to an oblique test if necessary for harmonization.

The APROSYS oblique tests had generally resulted in slightly higher numbers overall than the perpendicular pole tests. There was good repeatability for the oblique tests, but there was a need to update some test facility equipment (e.g. a need for larger carrier sleds), but this was not considered an unreasonably high cost / impost for test facilities. It was found that moving the perpendicular impact location forward 100 mm (i.e. an offset perpendicular test method) would produce similar rib deflection values as a 75 degree oblique test method. Mr Versmissen suggested that impact location was more important than impact angle.

The APROSYS group also investigated the suitability of the pole diameter and had concluded that the current 254 mm (10 inch) pole diameter was an appropriate pole diameter to be using in a vehicle-to-pole side impact test.

The APROSYS group had concluded that a 100 mm offset perpendicular vehicle-to-pole test may be better than 75 degree oblique on the basis that the ES-2 and WorldSID dummies were both considered likely to provide more accurate measurements of injury risk in perpendicular impact. However, Mr Versmissen noted that recent multi-dimensional rib deflection measurement systems for WorldSID, such as RibEye and 2D-IRTRACC would be able to be used to overcome any oblique rib loading concern the APROSYS group had at the time the APROSYS study was concluded.

Mr Terrell commented that recent oblique pole tests undertaken by Australia and Transport Canada with the WorldSID 50th percentile male dummy (WorldSID 50th) fitted with RibEye had shown predominantly lateral rib deflection responses, while perpendicular pole tests had produced considerable forward movement of the WorldSID 50th ribs.

Mr Damm asked if the APROSYS group had considered the inclusion of rear seat occupants in the test procedure. Mr Versmissen advised that a struck-side front-row 50th percentile male dummy only was considered given that a separate test would be necessary for rear seat occupants. Mrs Meyerson then commented that the FMVSS 214 pole test requirements apply to a 50th percentile male and 5th percentile female dummy positioned in the front-row only. Placement of dummies in the second row had been considered but was not justified.