Subjective and objective vehicle tests, two parallel vehicle handling evaluations

Abstract

Subjective and objective tests have long been used for estimating on road vehicle handling, in DGA Angers, in order to address safety problems which can occur in risky configurations. On one part, objective tests are used to measure vehicle dynamics characteristics, in ISO tests and in specific manoeuvres, mainly: (1) Steady state turning at constant radius; (2) Double lane change tests. On the other part, trained drivers give ratings to vehicle handling and dynamics characteristics, in a more comprehensive way. The aim of this paper is to present completeness or links which exist between subjective and objective tests which are carried out in order to have a comprehensive evaluation of all kinds of vehicles tested in DGA Angers. With instrumented tests and ratings given by trained drivers, correlations have been researched based on available tests results in DGA Angers which is in charge of vehicle tests whose results are used for giving them driving agreement. These links are presented and discussed in this paper focused on evaluation of safety performance made on a large spectrum of vehicles. © Springer-Verlag 2013.