FHWA/NHTSA National Crash Analysis Center Fact Sheet

2006Distribution number: HRDS-04/08-06(1M)EPDFTech ReportFHWA-HRT-06-110Crash analysisTraffic safetyUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationTurner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterOpiela, Kenneth S.Hargrave, MartinKan, Cing-DaoFederal Highway AdministrationThe National Crash Analysis Center (NCAC) is a globally unique storehouse of safety expertise and information that focuses on advancing new technologies and tools for crash analysis. NCAC primarily supports the U.S. Department of Transportation's strategic goal to reduce fatalities and injuries on the Nation's roadways, but has served to enhance efforts to improve safety worldwide. The missions of the NCAC include:Improving safety by expanding researchers' knowledge about crashes.Developing and sharing detailed vehicle and hardware models.Leading efforts to apply computer simulation tools to enable researchers to study the complex interactions associated with crashes.The resources at NCAC help researchers quantify and understand the crash performance of vehicles, the effects of a vehicle's performance on drivers and passengers, and the compatibility of vehicles with each other and with roadside hardware during crashes. Using the information, tools, and insights developed by NCAC, researchers and practitioners can enhance their ability to optimize the safety of vehicle and hardware designs, formulate guidelines for more effective deployment of safety features, develop innovative safety treatments, and minimize the severity of crashes.73