Motor Vehical Crash Costing Technology

With the advent of widely available PC technology, crash safety information can be cost-effectively disseminated to millions of people in an engaging and educational way. With an enticing and informative PC application, data about damages, costs, injuries and death can be personalized and grasped by anyone, particularily young drivers developing new driving behaviors. ARCCA's proposed system will provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for an individual to enter vehicle and occupant profile information, including the vehicle make and model, occupant height and weight, and restraint use. Using vehicle specifications databases provided by NHTSA and other sources, the system will derive from the user inputs additional data like seat belt type, airbag availability and vehicle weight and wheel base. Each user supplied accident scenario will produce output windows showing various perspectives on the accident's consequences. Outputs will include a crash/occupant motion dramatization, injury result depiction, financial cost summaries and safety instruction. These outputs will be based on a multimedia architecture. They will be "brought to life" with rich graphics, audio narration and color video animation. During Phase I, ARCCA will work with NHTSA and other experts to develop implementation guidelines and a comprehensive conceptual design.