We all know that there is a famous one who tests cars for stability during extreme maneuvers. During this test, experts check how a particular car behaves when trying to avoid an unexpected obstacle on the road. For example, this test simulates the sudden appearance of a moose or any other large animal on the road. Unfortunately, the maneuverability of the car does not always help to avoid a collision. After all, first of all, whether you can go around an unexpected obstacle depends on you. The fact is that the safety of your passengers depends on how quickly you react not to an obstacle on the road. Here is an example that a wild animal on the road is very dangerous.
For example, you should be aware that a moose that runs out on the road is a danger that can pose a threat to all participants. road traffic... Here is an accident that happened in Finland. Unfortunately, the driver of the car who was driving in the fast lane did not have time to react to the elk that ran out onto the road. As a result, the elk fell under the wheels and died. But because of its weight and speed
Recently, as you know, new Tesla model X has successfully completed the National Air Traffic Safety Administration's crash test program road safety USA (NHTSA). And even became the first crossover in the history of this department, which immediately earned 5 stars in 3 main testing categories and in all 9 subcategories. AND achieved result it was decided to fix it with one more test, which is usually called the "moose test".
The new record, of course, did not come as a big surprise, since has been working very actively for a long time to create an image of the "safest" products for all of its products.
And, I must say, she does a lot, because in the press it is simply not possible to find information about terrible accidents with the participation of these cars. And the message about an accident, in which, for one reason or another, any Tesla got involved, as a rule, is always accompanied by a separate comment about how the driver and all passengers leave the scene with a maximum of a couple of scratches and bruises.
It is believed that the high safety of Tesla was originally incorporated in the very design of these cars, more precisely, due to a very low center of gravity, and even more precisely - the location , which are actually built into the underbody of every Tesla.
And taking into account the fact that the batteries weigh a lot (for example, the weight of the Model S battery is about half a ton), then Tesla are really more stable on average, that is, they roll over worse than their classmates with an internal combustion engine. In other words, Tesla's famous "moose test" should have passed just as well. And it passed.
For those who are not quite in the know, let us clarify: the "moose test" allows you to reveal how the car will behave in case of a sudden change in direction. And they called him a moose because it most of all resembles the maneuver that a driver almost instinctively makes when trying to avoid a moose, deer or any other object that suddenly appears on the road in front of a moving car.
In general, at the 70 km / h stipulated by the test conditions, Tesla seems to be able to dodge the "moose" safely, which is confirmed by the corresponding video materials:
And for greater persuasiveness, you can also watch such a "movie" in which it is shown that the "moose test" in fact, not every car can pass just as easily and naturally:
When buying a car, every driver wants it to be comfortable, manageable and, most importantly, safe. Vehicle manufacturers add many gadgets to their products in order to. There are already cars with automatic braking at the sight of an obstacle, automatic parking and many others useful features... But still, human control of machines still remains in the first place, and transport with such additional options not everyone can afford it. More mundane safety indicators are, for example, road grip and vehicle response to steering... These parameters are checked using various control experiments, one of which is the so-called moose test.
What does the name "moose test" mean?
"Elk test" - this is the ability to quickly and safely go around a sudden obstacle. This experiment consists in the fact that the car, when driving, turns first sharply to the left, and then immediately sharply to the right, thus creating a very unstable position for itself. During this test, there is always a risk that the car will enter an uncontrollable skid or simply roll over from a strong overload. The test is considered passed if the vehicle is stable on wheels and was able to continue moving along its lane after a sharp detour of an impromptu obstacle. The car is considered the more stable and manageable than great speed he was able to develop with a successful test. For this, in case of success, the speed of movement is increased and the control experiment is repeated once more until the next test fails.
This method of testing the stability of vehicles was first introduced in Sweden, and now it has become quite common in the world. He got the name "moose test" because the ability of a car to sharply go around obstacles can be very useful and preserve health or even save lives if, for example, a moose suddenly appears on the road.
Appointment of "moose dough"
Many readers will ask why it is necessary to go around the obstacle, and not brake in front of it? Firstly, hard braking can lead to a skid, overload the wheel axles and create a serious obstacle or even emergency for cars moving behind you. Second, avoiding an obstacle is often safer than braking in front of it. This is extremely useful when the adjacent lane is free for such a maneuver. A detour is safer for a number of reasons: it takes less time to react to a turn, and a detour is more advantageous in terms of distance, as it does not require it, unlike trying to stop abruptly. And since in emergency situation the driver may not react to danger immediately, the gain in distance can be very useful to him and he simply decides on such a sharp and difficult maneuver.
Most often this test fails tall cars, in which the center of gravity is quite far from the ground. They even often roll over or at least get out of control and knock down cones just because of the high center of mass of the car. Also, the cause may be the wrong one, so it is imperative to control it and keep it at the normal level. Moreover, even with normally inflated tubes, you can fail this test simply due to the fact that he was wearing low-quality tires. This becomes a huge problem for producers, as each failed "moose test" leaves a fat stain on the reputation car brand, especially if this experiment was carried out by some major publication or TV channel.
The need for "moose dough"
This raises the question of the objectivity of the "moose test". According to the conditions of the experiment, the proposed obstacle is too far from the beginning of the maneuver, so that the driver is quite capable of braking in time. The section of the road on which the test is carried out is too narrow in width, but long in length, which is also far from reality in a similar situation. Also, the test result does not show true handling - the dimensions of the car, and the distribution of its mass, and other factors play a role here. This is evidenced by the fact that the "moose test" handling index for the Ferrari F430 is lower than for the third "Mazda", and best result shows the most ordinary cards.
It is possible to judge whether this method of determining controllability is good or bad, depending on what goal we pursue when conducting this test. It is definitely not suitable for determining the most manageable vehicle. Many well-controlled vehicles do not take the first place in the "moose test", and sometimes unremarkable cars become champions of this method of control.
Rather, this test is suitable for sending really bad car models for revision. After all, if the car rolls over during such a maneuver, it means that the weight is incorrectly distributed in it or some systems do not work well. In any case, a car that completely failed the "moose test" cannot be called safe. The transport on which people will carry themselves and their families must be ready at least for such loads, so in this regard, the test is quite good and even necessary.
Of course, one should not try to reproduce the experimental conditions on own car on public roads: this way you create a dangerous situation both for yourself and for other road users. It is better when choosing a machine to familiarize yourself with the test results carried out by professionals.
We welcome your feedback on this material.
The name of the journalist who did the baby-benz flips was Robert Colleen. Of course, he became a star and did a lot of interviews. In one of them, caustic colleagues sat on it, they say, why do we need this test-rearrangement at all - is there any practical sense in it? And Robert, defending his position, replied that sometimes such a maneuver saves lives, for example, if an elk jumps out on the road. So the term "moose test" was assigned to the maneuver.
In fact, we are talking about avoiding a sudden obstacle at a certain speed without braking. Journalists love this test, and it is on the menu of almost every reputable publication. In their hearts, every tester wants to repeat the feat of Robert Collin, because there is nothing more pleasant than catching someone on a mistake, especially a large automaker. The coup on moose dough is the most affordable way PR for automotive publications.
A diagram of the classic moose test is shown below. Some publications carry out the test with a full vehicle load. ESP usually remains activated.
| Teknikens Varld Edition Test Scheme |
However, opinions differ as to the adequacy and necessity of this test. Proponents see the results as a direct indication of active vehicle safety. During the test, the car should not stand on two wheels, let alone roll over, and for cars with a high center of gravity, even modern ones, this often turns out to be a problem. On moose tests German company ADAC was dancing and even somersaulting very respectable car models: Renault kangoo , Toyota Hilux , Citroen nemo.
Unlike abstract driving on a race track, the test simulates a real road situation, when the driver reflexively turns away from the obstacle and tries to dive back into his lane. How often such a need arises during normal driving, you can judge at least by our selection of videos from the "Violations of the month" section.
A good balance of handling and precise steering are required from the machine. Most often, test failure is associated with a vehicle's tendency to drift and unexpectedly sluggish steering responses.
"Autoreview" finds out for each car maximum speed performing a swap with professional driver behind the wheel, which first takes aim at, and then tries to find the limit, taking into account the characteristics of the car. In a sense, this is an artificial situation, because a real driver will steer on reflexes, and he will not have time to think: “So, so ... This car, when turning the steering wheel, the reactive force lags behind the lateral g-forces, so I'll turn it five degrees stronger ... "
Therefore, then the car is saddled in turn by five volunteers who try to pass the test on the first attempt at a speed of 65 km / h (usually 15-20 km / h below the maximum possible). Interestingly, on some cars zero out of five people succeed, that is, an emergency bypassing an obstacle is possible only by accident or thanks to the tremendous experience of the rider. This is especially true for pickups and vans with their high center of gravity, rolls and poor steering response. For example, the "autorevy" test failed pickup Mitsubishi L200. And here is the video of the test Dacia duster: there was no coup, but with the cones - complete haymaking.
Manufacturers hate this test, and the reason is clear: there is always a risk that there is a smart guy who will put your car in a bad light (after all, this is a sacred thing - active safety), besides, this smart guy can turn out to be a very respected editor-in-chief who you just can't shut up ... Unlike a crash test, moose tests are not so formalized, but are available to virtually everyone, so there is always a risk of failure. It may be the tires or the malfunction of a particular car to blame, but the brand of the automaker will be in the headlines.
However, ordinary motorists also question the need for moose dough. Here are their main points:
1. "Elk test" reproduces a completely abstract road situation, which is appropriate to call "a spherical elk in a vacuum." Look at the diagram of the Auto Review test: if we assume that the elk is in the middle of the figure, the distance to it from the moment the maneuver starts is about 20 meters. It's funny that calculators for calculating braking distance, which are used when analyzing an accident, give approximately this value for deceleration from a speed of 65 km / h. In other words, any normal driver will brake, not maneuver, and there is a chance that he will be in time.
2. "Elk test" gives paradoxical results for different cars, which do not always reflect their real handling. For example, the Ferrari F430 showed a top speed of 79.2 km / h, and a regular Mazda3 - 85.5 km / h. On the one hand, the result is adequate to the task at hand, but here we come to another question: is the task itself adequate?
3. Some say no. After all, the elk test in its classic form involves an incredibly filigree detour of an obstacle in narrow corridors with a smooth, uniform surface. The dimensions of the car matter - for example, the best result for Auto Review at 99.9 km / h was shown by a regular kart, but not because it is better and faster than a Ferrari, but this flea will just seep everywhere. With the same success, you can hit the cars on the semi-trailer of the truck, and when the card slips from below, assign it the title itself safe car of the year. The test does not take into account the braking properties of cars, which can be critical. It leaves out of bounds the behavior of the car in mixed doubles, when the wheels of one side slide along the side of the road or ice.
4. The test is "bad" from an educational point of view, because it subconsciously pushes drivers to a very dangerous maneuvers... Look again at the rearrangement scheme: it involves oncoming lane and an equally sudden return back (dodging an oncoming lane?). In real life, such a maneuver, frankly, looks suicidal, and most importantly, if it fails, you will bear full responsibility for the consequences, even if you become a victim of someone else's mistake. For “... if there is a danger to traffic that the driver is able to detect, he must take possible measures to reduce the speed up to a stop vehicle". Clause 10.1 of the SDA does not prohibit maneuvering, but if it was carried out without braking and ended in an accident, you become an accomplice from the victim.
5. If the tester is tormented at a speed of 80-90 km / h, what will happen to an ordinary driver at 110 km / h?
However, if you want my opinion, the moose test is very useful. You should not use it to identify the very car itself - this is really pointless. And of course, don "t try it at home - do not try to repeat (except for practice runs and very hopeless situations).
But it allows you to weed out outsiders who are prone to a coup or a strong skid. As the EuroNCAP crash test does not reproduce all the nuances of real accidents, the "moose test" gives only some idea of active safety cars. Moreover, it identifies features that do not appear at all during normal driving, therefore, very often a subjectively controlled car shows unimportant results in an emergency.
By the way, it was the moose test that led to the massive introduction of ESP, and in the video with the Citroen Nemo coup, his brother Peugeot Tepee was saved thanks to the stabilization system.
But to be honest, I always want to bring it a little closer to reality, adding intense braking to the beginning of the maneuver. Even if the moose suddenly ran out onto the road, first of all, you hit the brakes, and only then start turning the steering wheel. This is very important nuance: when braking, the balance of handling changes, and it becomes very important ABS work, which almost all cars have, in contrast to the ESP. And even if the taxiing is messy, the speed of the collision with the moose will be less ...
About moose
Some see the name "moose test" as a mockery, believing that the moose means some moron who jumped out onto the road. In fact, in many countries, including Russia, elk-elders represent a real danger. They appear on the road suddenly, weighing up to 600 kilograms (that is, how small car), and most importantly, they have long legs, so the blow from the elk hits the upper part of the cabin. Fatalities for the driver and passengers are not uncommon, and in some countries (like Sweden) there are full-size moose dummies for crash tests. In July, for example, a 37-year-old driver died in the Moscow region after hitting a moose.
Why do cars overturn?
Most cars are designed so that when the steering wheel is turned too hard at speed, the car starts to slip with the tires before the overturning moment puts it on two wheels.
For example, flip to flat road a serviceable golf-class car is very, very difficult. However, there are factors that increase the tendency of a car to overturn, and usually a somersault occurs for a combination of reasons:
- Incorrect tire pressure.
- Rough road and a tendency of the car to heavy skids.
- Large load (especially if the center of gravity was initially located high).
- Too harsh steering in different directions (moose dough situation).
- Defective or just weak shock absorbers.
- Terrain relief.
- "Help" from other machines.
The term "Elk Test" was invented by a Swedish journalist
popular magazine "Teknikens Varld", making the title almost
international (in English literature
elk test or moose test). In
time to check new
Mercedes-Benz A-class in 1997
r under
journalist Robert
Collina, the car overturned that
simultaneously caused a great resonance in
press and forced the concern "Daimler Chrysler"
modify the design and even postpone the creation of another "egg-head" -
Smart.
Where did the title come from?
The journalist instantly became a star on the air, and during another interview he replied,
that the test swap is just needed,
because sometimes such a maneuver can save
your life, for example, if a moose suddenly jumps out onto the road. Thus, the popular name "moose test" was quickly entrenched behind this test.
In the title "moose
test "some people contemplate the ridicule, suggesting that the" elk "is considered at least some moron who suddenly jumped out on
the road in front of the car. But this is not so, because in countless states, including
in Russia, elk represent
real danger. They appear on
road suddenly, often at night, weigh directly up to 600 kg (as a small
car), and, most importantly, they have long legs, as a result of which a blow
the animal falls, in the main, on the upper part of the cabin. Deadly endings for
passengers and driver are not unique in our time, and in individual states
(for example, Sweden) there are large-scale
moose dummies for performing crash tests.
The meaning of the test
Its essence lies in the fact that for
bypassing an obstacle suddenly appearing on the road at a certain speed without braking is performed
a sharp turn of the steering wheel to the left, from
"Moose", then sharply to the right,
bypassing the "moose", and again to the left, to
road. The higher the speed
while doing this
test, the more likely you will not get off the road and
you will not topple over - as it should,
the higher the indicator of stability and maneuverability of the car.
Journalists love this test and you can simply find it in the rubric of virtually any decent publication.
A coup in moose dough is a more affordable way of PR for
auto editions. In general, ideas about the need and
the adequacy of this test in
motorists are creeping up. Adherents behold
in its results the actual
machine safety. During the test period, the vehicle must under no circumstances
to tip over or stand on two wheels.
But this is a problem for vehicles with the highest center of mass. When passing
of this test famous models
Toyota Hilux cars, Renault Kangoo, Citroen Nemo of the German company
ADAC tumbled and danced. For
flawless passing of the test machine
you need to have a good balance
agility and crisp steering.
"Elk test", in
as opposed to abstract driving on a racing highway, simulates
real traffic situation when the chauffeur
involuntarily turns away from the obstacle and
later tries to dive back into his
strip. Test failure is most associated with sudden
sluggish reactions to the steering wheel and the disposition of the car to drifts.
The famous magazine "Auto Review" conducted its own
tests to find out for
of any brand of car the maximum speed of the test with a cool chauffeur, who at first ponders, and only later tries to find the limit, taking into account the parameters
cars. In a sense, it creates
artificial situation, because a valid chauffeur will
to act reflexively, and he completely will not have time to think about the situation.
Therefore, for purity
experience car experienced
in turn 5 volunteers who tried to pass this test with
the first test at a speed of 65 km / h, which is 15-20 km / h more than the maximum probable. He is very curious
the fact that on some models
no one has passed the test, either
a critical detour of an obstacle became possible only thanks to the enormous experience of the driver
or just by chance. In particular, vans and pickups sinned this.
with their slopes, the highest center
masses and weak recoil to the steering wheel, for example,
test failed Mitsubishi car
L200.
Manufacturers
cars do not like this test, and
the source is clear: there is a constant threat that
a journalist will be found who
will expose newest brand car
as a completely dangerous model. The main difference between this test
from a crash test is that it is not formal and is available to all
virtually everyone. Trouble in
this test is connected not only with the make of the car and its
features, because there may be
tires or no matter what kind of malfunction.
Generally,
relevance of moose dough
questioned by
ordinary motorists.
The main
prerequisites:
- "Elk test"
recreates a completely abstract road situation. Indeed, during the passage
test by the drivers of "Autoreview" assumed that the elk
is at a distance of about 20
meters. The most exciting thing is that stopping distance calculators, which
used when analyzing an accident, give approximately this value for braking at speed
at 65 km / h. It means that
it is easier for the driver to experience the brake and he, most likely, will have time to do it, and not carry out difficult
maneuvers. - He gives
paradoxical results for different cars that do not always show their real
maneuverability. For example, an ordinary "Mazda 3", when passing the test, showed
its maximum speed when performing this maneuver
- 85.5 km / h, but the famous "Ferrari F430" -
only 79.2 km / h. - The classic version of the elk test assumes an indescribably filigree
driver bypassed obstacles in
narrow corridors with a smooth uniform surface. As it turns out, the dimensions
cars also matter. The magazine has an impeccable result
"Autoreview" at 99.9 km / h showed
an ordinary car, but not due to the fact that it is faster and
better than Ferrari, but simply because of
it will pass its own dimensions
everywhere. The test is not completely
takes into account the braking characteristics of cars, and in fact they are of great importance.
It also does not take into account the actions of the machine in
mixed doubles when the wheels are on the 1st side
just slide on the ice or along the edge of the road. - Side test
educational point of view is very bad because subconsciously
pushes drivers into very unsafe maneuvers. After all, the rearrangement scheme involves driving into the oncoming lane and a very sharp reversal (dodging an oncoming car). In real life, this maneuver looks suicidal, because in case of trouble, you specifically carry
completely full responsibility
for the acquired results, including,
if you become a victim of someone else's mistake.
Traffic rules do not prohibit maneuvering,
but if it ended in disaster -
you will not become a victim, but a culprit. - If the tester does not
can pass the "moose test" from the first try
at a vehicle speed of 65
km / h, what then happens to
regular chauffeur at speed
vehicle 105 km / h?
In general, "moose test"
nevertheless very necessary, because it gives
the ability to weed out those cars that are prone to drifts or
coups. Just not worth it
in order to choose for yourself when buying a flawless car and in no way
do not spend it without the help of others.
