asure the deceleration of the head in three different directions, when it hits the steering wheel. Steel, vinyl and graphite layered ribs that deflect like a humans measure the impact on many different body parts, from the pelvis to the knee, then this information is sent to computers to be analyzed. To make sure all of the sensors and physical responses of the dummies are in proper working order, they must undergo many tests. Their chest is hit with a 51.5 pound pendulum, their knees are smashed with federally specified weights and their head is dropped 14 inches onto a table. The Safety Test Instrumentation Standards Committee is one of the standards committees under the Vehicle Systems Group. This committee sets and maintains standards for vehicle crash test data. The committee was formed in the 1960s to achieve standards in data. SAE J211 Recommended Practice Instrumentation for Impact Tests was established in October 1970, to help create more testing standards. SAE J211 has been improved over the years as dummy testing has evolved. It now sets standards for electronic data and high speed imaging during tests. It also made the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, NHTSA. This set a format standard of crash test data files that are exchanged between different test labs.Finally, despite the price tag of about $100,000 per dummy, crash tests need to be performed. The number of deaths per miles traveled in over 90% lower than it was in 1922. This is partly because of advancement in safety equipment made for data collected from crash dummy testing. Dummies are used so car companies can test their products before sending them out to be sold. General Motors spends about 30% of their dummy testing making sure that the vehicle meets federal standards. The other 70% of the crash tests are to work out the bugs in prototypes of cars and equipment. SID are currently the federal standard for ensuring for making sure that new cars...
