The chair explained that the cost-benefit assessment appears to be a major topic in this group. JASIC elaborated a study on cost benefit (documents GTR9-2-07r1 and GTR9-2-12). During the 2nd and 3rd meeting the Alliance expressed orally their concerns related to the accident database used in the JASIC papers. For the 4th meeting the Alliance submitted two documents (documents GTR9-4-12 – report and GTR9-4-13 – presentation) as technical information to the group as result of a request to JP Research as their contractor to assess, among others, the appropriateness of several accident data sources (PCDS – Pedestrian Crash Data Study, FARS – Fatality Analysis Reporting Systems, NASS/CDS – National Automotive Sampling System/Crashworthiness Data System etc., including their combinations) and the use MAIS levels 4+ for estimating leg fractures and fatalities. JP Research found some differences in the case numbers used by JASIC. In addition, JP Research stated that the PCDS data set is not representing the current US fleet and appears to be statistically not valid. There are also remaining concerns regarding the combination of the existing data.

JASIC clarified the different case numbers in their study. JASIC omitted those cases with fractures in the upper tibia plateau and in the ankle area and explained that the focus was on tibia shaft fractures only.

In addition BASt presented a benefit estimation of FlexPLI vs. EEVC LFI (document GTR9-4-18). BASt concluded that the injury assessment ability using the FlexPLI is better than using the EEVC LFI due to the direct measurements of ligament elongations and bone bending. For example, the fracture risk can be measured at 4 locations along the tibia bone shaft for the FlexPLI while the fracture risk judgment of the EEVC LFI concentrates to the upper tibia part. BASt stated that cars which fulfill the FlexPLI requirements should also pass the tests with the EEVC LFI. OICA opposed that this is not necessarily true for all vehicle types. Japan stated that the better biofidelity of the test tool should be decisive for those questions.

JASIC presented the Honda document for the 2012 IRCOBI conference (held in Dublin from 12th – 14th September 2012) which was agreed to be circulated as document GTR9-4-20 to the group. JASIC concluded among others that the correlation with human injury measures was found to be significantly improved for FlexPLI relative to EEVC legform for tibia fracture and ACL failure measures.

JASIC stated that Japan had made its study on cost-benefit and that no further work is planned for this issue. The chair proposed to have a deeper look into the GIDAS data and requested BASt to provide some additional information (action item A-4-11) by the next meeting. Since this issue is also of high priority for NHTSA (see agenda item 5) the chair additionally proposed to contact with NHTSA to find a common solution (action item A-4-10) for the next informal group meeting. NHTSA will undertake additional studies.