CNCAP to begin crash testing rear ends
The government body responsible for crash testing cars is planning to introduce rear end crash testing to improve the strength of automotive rear ends.
China is a dangerous place to drive, in 2009 alone there were over 60,000 car crashes that were blamed on tail gating drivers. In Zhejiang province over the spring break weekend, there were 604 cases of crashes due to tail gating drivers, which averaged out at 86 cases per day and resulted in 52 deaths and 325 injuries. Total deaths in China due to tail gating drivers was over 3000, and injuries were at over 8000. Chinese consumers believe that buying sedans over hatchbacks will give them more rear end safety, hence the popularity of sedans in the Chinese market place.
China’s C-NCAP is currently only testing cars at 54kph, and then only testing on a 100% front crash basis and 40% off center test, and until now they were lacking a rear impact test. The addition of a rear end crash test will encourage car makers to improve rear end strength.
The addition of a rear crash test is a unique addition to C-NCAP’s testing procedure, originally C-NCAP started and followed in the path of Europe’s NCAP crash testing authority, although C-NCAP test at lower speed than NCAP at 54kph.
The introduction of rear end crash testing will be a boost to the Chinese car industry for all players in the market and will assist consumers in putting their fears at ease on dangerous roads.
source: Featured | CNCAP to begin crash testing rear ends | China Car Times