Traditional recons are challenging enough, never mind the funky ones like a downed motorcycle sliding into the side of a car, or a forklift t-boning a station wagon. Today’s installment is about a resource that can help us better understand the oddballs.

A database of 8,000+ crash tests

​Crashtest-service has a searchable database of 8,000 crash tests involving everything from airplanes to bicycles. Looking for a motorcycle delivered into the side of a farm tractor? They got that. A car hitting a bounding fox…check. From their brochure:

Founded in 2011 by Schimmelpfennig + Becke, crashtest-service.com GmbH is a service provider offering crash testing for accident reconstruction purposes and certification of vehicle restraint systems and road traffic support systems. On our 30,000 m2 crash test facility, traffic accidents are recreated and vehicle restraint systems tested on the basis of current certification standards. Crashtest-service has been officially DAkkS (Germany’s national accreditation body) certified to render such services since 2013.

It’s easy to create an account, and once you’re in, crash tests can be purchased individually at varying prices, but in the ballpark of $50-$150.

Hopefully that helps you figure out a wonky crash down the line…

Lou Peck
​Lightpoint | Axiom