Goal
The purpose of this research program is to investigate the problems of vehicle aggressivity and compatibility in multi-vehicle crashes. The near term goal is to identify and demonstrate the extent of the problem of incompatible vehicles in vehicle-to-vehicle collisions. The objective is to identify and characterize compatible vehicle designs with the expectation that improved vehicle compatibility will result in large reductions in crash related injuries. Specifically, this program seeks to identify those vehicle structural categories, vehicle models, or vehicle design characteristics which are aggressive based upon crash statistics and crash test data. Light truck and van collisions with cars are one specific, but growing, aspect of this larger problem.

Publications

 Investigation of Opportunities for Lightweight Vehicles Using Advanced Plastics and Composites  sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT HS 811 692, December 2012

 Crash Safety Assurance Strategies for Future Plastic and Composite Intensive Vehicles (PCIVs)
sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT-VNTSC-NHTSA-10-01, June2010


Frontal Compatibility Analysis With Option 2 LTV’s and Over Ride Barrier Design For SEAS Evaluation: Preliminary Analysis 
sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT HS 811 293, March 2010

A Safety Roadmap for Future Plastics and Composites Intensive Vehicles sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT HS 8110 863, November 2007

 NHTSA’s Recent  Vehicle Crash Test Program on Compatibility in Front-to-Front  Impacts  
Patel,S., Smith,D., Prasad, A.- U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Mohan, P. - FHWA/NHTSA National Crash Analysis Center,The George Washington University; presented at the 20th ESV Conference Proceedings, June 2007

NHTSA's Review of a Vehicle Compatibility Performance Metric Through Computer Simulation
Matthew Jerinsky, William T. Hollowell, 2003 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Washington, D.C., November 16-21, 2003.

NHTSA's Review of High-Resolution Load Cell Walls' Role in Designing for Compatibility
Matthew Jerinsky, William T. Hollowell, Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 393, Nagoya, Japan. May 2003.

NHTSA'S Research Program for Vehicle Compatibility
Stephen M. Summers, William T. Hollowell, , Aloke Prasad, Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 307, Nagoya, Japan. May 2003.

Design Considerations for A Compatibility Test Procedure
Stephen Summers, William T. Hollowell, Aloke Prasad, Society of Automotive Engeneers Paper No. 2002-02B-169. March 2002. supporting data for this paper available here

NHTSA's Research Program for Vehicle Aggressivity and Fleet Compatibility
Stephen Summers, Aloke Prasad, William T. Hollowell, Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 249, Amsterdam, Netherlands. June 2001.

A Sytems Modeling Methodology For Estimation of Harm in the Automotive Crash Environment
Alexandra C. Kuchar, Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 354, Amsterdam, Netherlands. June 2001.

NHTSA's Crashworthiness Modelling Activities
Stephen Summers, William T. Hollowell, Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 251, Amsterdam, Netherlands. June 2001.

"NHTSA's Compatibility Research Program Update"
Stephen Summers, Aloke Prasad, William T. Hollowell, Society of Automotive Engineers Paper No. 2001-01-1167 March 2001.

"Vehicle Design versus Aggressivity"
Hans C. Joksch, University of Michigan Transportation Institute, Report , DOT HS 809 194. April 2000.

"NHTSA's Vehicle Aggressivity and Compatibility Research Program"
Summers, S, Prasad, A, . and Hollowell, W.T., Society of Automotive Engineers Paper No. 1999-01-0071 March 1999.

"Fatality Risk in Collisions Between Cars and Light Trucks"
Hans C. Joksch, University of Michigan Transportation Institute, Report, September 1998.

"NHTSA's Vehicle Aggressivity and Compatibility Research Program"
Gabler, H.C and Hollowell, W.T. Proceedings of the Sixteenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 98-S3-O-01, Windsor, Canada. June 1998.

"The Aggressivity of Light Trucks and Vans in Traffic Crashes"
Gabler, H.C. and Hollowell, W.T., Society of Automotive Engineers Paper No. 980908. February 1998.

 "Vehicle Aggressivity: Fleet Characterization Using Traffic Collision Data"
Joksch, H., Massie, D., and Pichler, R., University of Michigan Transportation Institute, Report DOT HS 808 679 February 1998.

 "NHTSA's Vehicle Aggressivity and Compatibility Research Program"
Hollowell, W.T. and Gabler, H.C, Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 96-S4-O-01. Melbourne, Australia. May 1996.