ANCAP :: Pole Test

The pole side impact test simulates a car colliding with a fixed object such as a tree or pole.

In this test, a car is propelled sideways at 29 km/hr into a rigid steel pole. The pole is lined up with the driver's head. The pole is relatively narrow, so there is major penetration into the side of the car. A special side impact crash test dummy is in the driver's seat.

The car tested is propelled sideways at 29km/h into a rigid steelpole. The pole is relatively narrow, so there is major penetration into the side of the car.

Head protecting side airbags (such as curtain airbags) help to make this kind of crash survivable. They are also very effective in other types of side impact accidents such as being hit by a high vehicle where the bonnet enters the window at head height.