ROOF CRUSH 5 . Remedies: |
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Providing adequate roof strength for rollovers isn't really difficult, European manufacturers have been doing it for decades. There is no common European (EEC) standard nor any individual national standards for roof strength in Europe for light vehicles. (There are for heavy trucks and busses.) Its up to individual manufacturers to establish their own standards and testing protocols. Some do, some don't. These video captures from a Mercedes Benz test on the right are a good illustration of what vehicle makers can do if they want to. Few if any American or Asian made vehicle will perform like this or pass this sort of testing. Volvo also has a well deserved reputation for rollover safety, although a few models in the past have been questionable. Even American makes did well in rollovers long ago. But the weak Federal standard, cost cutting and design changes have long since eliminated virtually all rollover crashworthy vehicles from the domestic suppliers.
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Note that the side glass appears to be intact after this Mercedes rollover test.
Mercedes drop test. Volvo rollover test.
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