Driving at a reduced speed is often synonymous with safety, but it does not always suffice to protect the occupants of a vehicle. Recent tests conducted by the ADAC reveal that frontal collisions at 35 km/h can cause more severe injuries than at 50 km/h. A reality that calls into question automotive safety standards and pushes Euro NCAP to rethink its evaluation criteria.
A Troubling Truth About Low-Speed Collisions
The ADAC recently revealed that moderate-speed impacts can be more dangerous than they appear. While automotive safety tests generally focus on scenarios at 50 km/h, the organization decided to examine a less frequent but equally crucial case: the frontal collision at 35 km/h. The results of these tests are astonishing and highlight a reality often ignored. The physical constraints experienced by front occupants can sometimes be higher at this reduced speed.
These findings raise questions about the effectiveness of current automotive safety standards. If vehicles are designed to excel in high-speed tests, what about the more everyday situations drivers encounter in urban areas? These questions deserve to be asked at a time when Euro NCAP is considering modifying its evaluation criteria to better reflect the reality of accidents.
ADAC tests show that collisions at 35 km/h can cause more severe injuries than at 50 km/h. © Euro NCAP
When Restraint Systems Fail to Do Their Job
At first glance, one might think that an impact at 35 km/h, lower than the standard reference of 50 km/h, would be less traumatic. But the technique reveals another reality. Load limiters and seatbelt pretensioners are designed to operate within a specific deceleration range. At 50 km/h, these devices activate and help absorb the forces exerted on the body. In contrast, at 35 km/h, these systems may not deploy, resulting in a sudden stop of the body against the seatbelt.
The results of tests conducted on a recent city car, the MG3, perfectly illustrate this phenomenon. Although the impact energy is lower, the measurements reveal greater stress on the torso for front occupants. This is a particularly concerning situation, as it primarily affects older individuals, whose physical resilience is often weaker. Yet, they are precisely the ones who frequently travel at low speeds, on short trips in urban areas.
During tests with the MG3, measurements show greater stress on the torso for front occupants in a collision at 35 km/h. © Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP 2026: A Response to the System’s Limitations
These alarming results have led Euro NCAP to consider integrating the frontal collision at 35 km/h into its evaluation protocols by 2026. This evolution should compel automakers to design restraint systems capable of functioning effectively over a wider speed range, thus addressing a variety of occupant profiles. The idea is not to limit scenarios to ideal conditions but to take into account the diversity of real situations encountered by drivers.
Beyond this test, the organization plans to expand its requirements on other crucial points: using a greater variety of dummies to simulate different body types, conducting tests that are more representative of real-world conditions regarding driver assistance systems, and even the operation of electric door handles after an accident. These changes reflect a new philosophy based on everyday use rather than theoretical scenarios.
Optimized Safety for Tests, But Not for Reality?
This evolution raises a disturbing question: has automotive safety learned too well to succeed in tests at the expense of real user protection? Upcoming adjustments may better address this issue. In the meantime, it is imperative that all industry stakeholders become aware of this dichotomy between tests and the reality of accidents.
As we move toward an era where road safety must adapt to true traffic conditions, it becomes essential to evaluate the effectiveness of safety systems not only in the lab but also in the real world. As cars become increasingly intelligent and connected, it is time to demand that these technological advancements truly benefit the safety of all.
