HORIBA MIRA unveils UK-first crash testing facility

Automotive engineering consultancy HORIBA MIRA has opened the UK’s first vehicle crash testing facility capable of testing frontal car-to-car impacts.

These collisions are responsible for more deaths than any other accident type, according to Euro NCAP. 

HORIBA MIRA’s new Passive Safety Centre Crash Facility doubles the length of the previous Crash Facility runway from 85m to 170m, enabling ‘car-to-car Mobile Progressive Deformable Barrier’ (MPDB) crash tests to be carried out in the UK for the first time. 

State-of-the-art high-speed cameras have also been installed to support post-crash data analysis.

Graeme Stewart, HORIBA MIRA’s Chief Technical Officer, said, “The MPDB test is integral to the vehicle development work that’s needed to help vehicle makers fully understand frontal, car-to-car impacts and to develop – with support and guidance from our engineers – the vehicle safety improvements that will reduce casualties for that type of accident scenario. 

“We already have world-class active safety testing capability and facilities at HORIBA MIRA, but the UK has never had this level of passive testing capability before. We’re delighted we could secure the necessary support to bring that to fruition.

“Opening our new Crash Facility is a landmark moment, allowing us to support all legislative and consumer standards, as well as to conduct the important vehicle development work that will support the global automotive industry’s bid to design safer vehicles.” 

Roisin Hopkins, Chief Commercial Officer, added, “Opening our Passive Safety Centre Crash Facility not only allows the UK to make an even bigger contribution to the push to reduce serious and fatal injuries on the roads, but it also means we can provide a one-stop automotive safety test engineering solution to customers from across the world.”