CONTRIBUTION OF THE VOLKSWAGEN WORKS TO THE RESEARCH SAFETY VEHICLE PROGRAMME

WORK IN PHASE 1 OF THE RSV (RESEARCH SAFETY VEHICLE) PROGRAMME HAS SHOWN THAT THE MOTOR CAR WILL CONTINUE IN FUTURE TO BE THE FAVOURITE MEANS OF TRANSPORT. THE STRUCTURE OF THE SUBURBS IN THE USA AND WESTERN EUROPE, MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CAR, WILL NOT ALLOW A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE TRAFFIC AND ACCIDENT SITUATION IN THE FORECAST PERIOD UP TO 1985 WILL NOT ALTER IN PRINCIPLE. RELATIVELY RELIABLE ASSERTIONS MAY BE MADE ON THE SEQUENCE OF CONCEIVABLE SAFETY MEASURES, ON THE BASIS OF COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS. THE RESULTS CONFIRM THE HIGH VALUE OF PROTECTING THE OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT. IT WAS ALSO PROVED THAT AN INCREASE IN SAFETY DEMANDS IS ONLY MEANINGFUL IF THE COMPATIBILITY PROBLEM ARISING FROM IMPACTS OF VEHICLES OF VARYING MASSES, IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. MOREOVER THE LONG USED TEST INVOLVING A FRONTAL IMPACT AGAINST A FIXED BARRIER MUST BE ABANDONED. INSTEAD, OTHER TESTS INVOLVING MOVABLE BARRIERS ARE PROPOSED.