I suspect most people are familiar with the concept of a crash test dummy. For decades, scientists have tested the overall safety of vehicles by loading them up a car with sensors and couple of mannequins, which they then send careening into a stationary test vehicle.
Those tests have provided a lot of key safety data over the years, and prompted changes to the way new vehicles of all sizes are constructed. But the problem is that those tests don't do a great job of tracking what happens during a real world crash. What kind of decisions do drivers make in the midst of an accident and what are the consequences?
To answer those questions, researchers and engineers spent years constructing the most ambitious crash test ever built. On a two-mile stretch of road in Scotland, they designed a multi-vehicle crash they hoped would allow them to track every moment of the complicated accident, which would involve parked vehicles, an out-of-control 16-wheeler hauling two trailers, and four drivers who had no idea they had been recruited to participant in a traumatic event.
The entire process is recounted in the two-part Nova Ultimate Crash Test, which premiered on May 7th and May 14th on PBS. Part one recounted the complex preparation for the event, as engineers and scientists struggled to create a scenario that would be safe while also providing a previously unheard-of level of crash data. Part two covers the aftermath of the crash and the impact it had on the participants.
The four volunteer drivers controlled their vehicles virtually from a site near the accident and they were joined on the road by four drivers hired by the engineers to ensure the accident would take place. Every moment was designed to resemble a real-world accident, including laying down dusty gravel, which would simulate the lack of traction and poor vision drivers would encounter in the midst of a torrential rain storm.
As the accident took place, the startled drivers attempted to save themselves with results that were unpredictable and sometimes jarring. One of the aspects of the experiment I didn't expect was the impact the accident had on the virtual drivers. Even though they controlled their vehicles remotely, the incident felt real to them. They had the opportunity to examine their wrecked vehicles after the fact, and the extent of the damage and how even the safest driver can be seriously injured left the four deeply shaken.
The other surprising twist in the staged accident was that scientists decided to bring in an experienced accident evaluation team to examine the accident scene. They had not seen anything leading up to the accident or the event itself. Instead, they were asked to do the same process they would go through in a real-world accident - try and determine the sequence of events that took place based on the evidence at the scene. After their investigation was complete, they were able to watch the footage of the complicated accident and see how closely their recounting of the events matched the real-life facts.
This was one of those specials in which I wasn't convinced going into watching it that I would find it either useful or entertaining. I've seen accident recreations before and expected this Nova special to simply be more of the same, only perhaps amped up a bit.
But it was a truly fascinating look at the science behind accident recreations and a reminder that at the end of the day, the most unpredictable aspect of any accident is the humans involved in the midst of it. No matter how much science attempts to make driving safe, it's impossible to cover drivers and their passengers in every scenario.
For instance, in this test, one driver successfully stopped her vehicle before hitting the trailer. She then started her vehicle back up and managed to drive it into the trailer after all.
Evaluating vehicle safety and accident prevention has moved well beyond those iconic yellow-and-black crash test dummies. And as it turns out, that story managed to make for some compelling television.
Nova: Ultimate Crash Test: Impact is currently available on PBS.org and the PBS app.
