What is a moose test ?
A moose test, as its name suggest, is a kind of test for vehicle safety designed to replicate the effect of a collision with a moose or any kind of large animal. The moose test started in Scandinavia, where huge ungulates and hoofed mammals are usually seen on the road, posing a serious danger to motorists. However, although most car companies in the Northern Europe, such as Saab do and Volvo use this kind of test, not all car manufacturers use moose testing because some regions have no large animals wandering on the roads.
Collisions with big animals, especially those with horns, can lead to windshield damages that can cause serious injuries and even death for both the animal and the passengers. If lucky, a collision with a moose or other large animals can only lead to front-end body damages to your vehicle. Most drivers in regions where elks, moose and other animals frequent the road usually have animal collisions drills when getting a driver’s license, so they are aware of the precautions needed in dealing with such animals.
While many people assume that swerving to avoid an animal on the road can fix the problem, it is just as dangerous as hitting the moose or other animals, particularly if the road is slippery or the vehicle is loaded with plenty of passengers or cargo.
Generally, a professional driver performs the moost test on a closed track. However, most car companies use an automated safety testing system to perform such a dangerous test.
A moose test starts with the moose that is usually simulated with steel and other sturdy materials, arranged to be about the shape and size of an adult moose. In a simple moose test, the car will be slammed into the dummy animal at different rates of speed to observe what happens to the car, animal and passenger. The goal is for the car to toss the moose over the roof. When this happens, the animal does not penetrate the windshield, although this may still do extensive damage to the car.
In a more comprehensive moose test, it involves a driver spotting a moose and then swerving to prevent it. The driver will also try to swerve back into the right lane to avoid oncoming traffic. In this case, the test aims that the vehicle will stay upright and will not spin out of control.
Although the concept of a moose test may seem somewhat unbelievable, the moose test has contributed quite a few things to automotive safety, such as reinforced windshields and safe placements of A-pillar. These measures may avoid serious injury or death should many types of collision occur involving an elk, moose or other large wild animals.
