Published by Australian Academy of Science
Useful sites | Death-defying designs for car safety

Vehicle safety (Australian Government Department of Transport and Regional Services, Australia)

From here you can access information about a variety of vehicle safety issues, including:

• The Australian Design Rules – index
  A brief outline of the purpose of each design rule.
  http://www.dotars.gov.au/roads/motor/design/adr_online.aspx

• Vehicle crash testing
  Describes the essential items at a crash testing facility.
  http://www.dotars.gov.au/roads/safety/vehicle/crashtest/index.aspx

• Airbags
  Includes how an airbag works and airbag comparison testing.
  http://www.dotars.gov.au/roads/safety/vehicle/airbags/index.aspx

Monash University Accident Research Centre, Australia

• Vehicle crashworthiness and aggressivity ratings and crashworthiness by year of vehicle manufacture: Victoria and NSW crashes during 1987-98, Queensland crashes during 1991-98
  An abstract and executive summary of the report.
  http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc//reports/muarc241.html

• Effectiveness of ADR69: A case-control study of crashed vehicles equipped with airbags
  Presents results showing that injuries to front seat occupants in frontal crashes are reduced when cars have airbags.
  http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/atsb199.html

Road fatality statistics (Australian Government Transport Safety Bureau)

Presents national road toll statistics.
http://www.atsb.gov.au/road/road_fatality_statistics/index.aspx

About ANCAP crash tests (National Roads and Motorists' Association, Australia)

Describes the crash tests that are used by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/mynrma/hs.xsl/about_ancap.htm?cpssessionid=SID-3F5768EC-59B1DABE

Teen driving contracts could save lives (The Pulse, Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Looks at the possibility of written contracts between teens and parents to help curb fatalities.
http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/s1806273.htm

How Stuff Works (USA)

• How automotive crash tests work
  Includes information about crash test dummies and how crash tests are carried out in the US.
  http://www.howstuffworks.com/crash-test.htm

• How brakes work
  This article, the first in a six-part series on brakes, describes the chain of events from the pedal to the wheel. Other articles, accessible from this page, cover master cylinders and combination valves, drum brakes, disc brakes, power brakes, and anti-lock brakes.
  http://www.howstuffworks.com/brake.htm

• How an auto air bag works
  Covers how airbags work, their problems and new developments and research.
  http://www.howstuffworks.com/airbag.htm

Airbags and seatbelts (2Learn, Canada)

Provides a list of websites about the use of airbags and seatbelts.
http://www.2learn.ca/search/NetStepView.asp?PID=3956