The Crash Barrier conducts vehicle crash tests to assess the risk of injury to vehicle occupants during various impact scenarios. The subject of the test may be the vehicle (against 'standard' objects) or the road safety barrier (by crashing 'standard' vehicles into the barrier).
Crashlab conducts crash tests for the following reasons:
- Consumer awareness - the quickest way to influence the availability and purchase of safer vehicles is to demonstrate to a wide audience the practical consequences of these features. Programs such as ANCAP (www.ancap.com.au) supply buyers with impartial information on the safety performance of vehicles, allowing crashworthiness to become a significant factor in vehicle marketing and purchasing. Crashlab conducts Frontal Offset, Side Impact and Pole Side Impact testing on behalf of ANCAP.
- Policy Development - as a NSW Government owned facility, Crashlab supports the development of appropriate State policy through the evaluation of 'real world' scenarios and interpretations that may not be covered by existing Standards or Regulations.
- Vehicle Standards R&D (Research and Development) - vehicle standards need ongoing review and development to ensure that they are relevant and appropriate for the current vehicle fleet and/or prevalent injury mechanisms. Crashlab conducts standards research and development crash tests with State, Federal and international research partners.
- Commercial Crash Testing - Crashlab is available on a commercial basis to conduct vehicle and road safety barrier product development programs and certification crash tests to Australian, European and US crash testing standards.
The Crash Barrier is a purpose built world-class test facility featuring a 480m2 central crash hall, 180m of fully enclosed concrete runway and a movable 110 Tonne crash reaction block. A further 30m of uncovered runway leads out into an outdoor area where vehicle rollover and road safety barrier rests are conducted. The DC drive control system can accurately and safely accelerate an eight tonne truck from rest to 80km/h or a three tonne vehicle up to 110km/h.
For commercial test enquiries, please email colin.jackson@rms.nsw.gov.au