Standardized pre-crash-scenarios in digital format on the basis of the VUFO simulation

The sequence of accident events can be classified by three essential phases, the pre-crash sequence, the crash sequence and the post-crash sequence. The level of reliability of the information in the GIDAS database (German In Depth Accident Study) is provided predominantly on the passive side. The period to evaluate active safety systems begins already in the pre-crash sequence. The assessment of the potential of sensor- or communication-based active safety systems can only be accomplished by a detailed analysis of the pre-crash phase. Hence the necessity to analyze the early period of the accident event in detail arises. This is possible with the help of the digital sketches of the accident site and the simulation of the accident by a simulation method of the VUFO GmbH. After simulating the pre-crash scenario it is possible to generate additional and standardized data to describe the pre-crash sequences of an accident in a very high detail. These data are documented in a second database called the GIDAS Pre-Crash Matrix (PCM). The PCM contains various tables with all relevant data to reproduce the pre-crash sequence of traffic accidents from the GIDAS database until 5 seconds before the first collision. This includes parameters to describe the environment data, participant data and motion or dynamic data. This paper explains the creation of the PCM, the simulation itself and the contents and structure of the PCM. With this information of the pre-crash sequence for various accident scenarios an improved benefit estimation and development of active safety systems can be made possible. (A) Paper to the session "Aspects of Driver Assistant Systems" of the 5th International Conference on ESAR "Expert Symposium on Accident Research", 7th to 8th September 2012 in Hannover.