On the morning of October 22, at the Daegu Intelligent Automotive Parts Promotion Center's test track in Dalseong-gun, a motorcycle collided with a KG Mobility Actyon. The rider dummy on the motorcycle was thrown onto the vehicle's hood and windshield before falling to the ground. This collision demonstration, set at a speed of 40 km/h, highlighted the dangers of motorcycle accidents even at relatively low speeds.
Despite the chilly weather and strong winds, spectators flocked to the K-CRASH 2026 event at the test track, capturing the collision demonstration on their phones as it simulated real traffic accidents.
The first demonstration recreated a scenario where a motorcycle traveling straight collided with a passenger car entering from a 45-degree angle, mimicking a potential intersection accident. This was followed by a frontal collision demonstration that showcased the risks faced by motorcycle riders.
The collision scenarios were based on an analysis of 1,429 motorcycle accidents recorded by the accident investigation firm Samsong, with intersection accidents accounting for 11.2% of these incidents.
Demonstrations also tested the response capabilities of advanced safety technologies under conditions similar to real accidents. One test examined how the automatic emergency braking system (AEB) operates during a left turn at an intersection, assessing the system's effectiveness in so-called 'edge cases' where assessing accident risk is challenging.
Hyundai and Kia showcased new technologies in their advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), including an emergency braking feature activated through the electronic gear lever's park (P) position and safety technologies for commercial vehicles compliant with European blind spot information system (BSIS) regulations.
In the afternoon, a demonstration of a multi-vehicle collision was conducted, where a Kia Seltos traveling at a constant speed rear-ended a stationary KG Mobility Actyon and a Chevrolet Spark at an intersection.
This scenario was designed to illustrate a situation where a stunt driver excessively manipulated the steering wheel, preventing the forward collision avoidance system (FCA) from activating. After the collision, data from the event data recorder (EDR) was extracted to analyze the cause of the accident.
The EDR records vehicle speed, accelerator pedal operation, and brake activation before and after an accident. Review of the recorded footage revealed that the driver was swerving the steering wheel despite a vehicle being stationary ahead. The driver's airbag did not deploy immediately after the collision.
The importance of EDRs in determining accident causes is growing. The United States has finalized regulations to extend the pre-accident EDR recording time from five seconds to twenty seconds, with plans for gradual implementation starting in 2028.
Kim Jeong-yun, chair of the accident investigation and reconstruction division at the Korean Automotive Mobility Safety Society, stated, "This year's K-CRASH integrated motorcycle collision demonstrations with autonomous driving, ADAS safety technologies, and accident data analysis into a cohesive platform. We aim to develop a professional platform that leads to safer mobility technologies and regulations based on a better understanding of actual accidents."
The event was co-hosted by the Intelligent Automotive Parts Promotion Center, the National Forensic Service, the Korea Road Traffic Authority, and Samsong, with support from vehicle manufacturers including Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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