The NHTSA / Research and Development Vehicle Crash Test database is made up of six tables, named TEST, VEH, BAR, OCC, REST and INST.

The TEST table has one record per released test and contains general crash test information such as the type of test, the test performer,and the test date. The primary key for this table is the TSTNO variable which is assigned, per test, by NHTSA at the time of insertion of the test into the database.

The VEH table contains information concerning the vehicles and moving barriers configured into the test. Depending on the test configuration (TSTCFN), there will be one or more vehicles in this table for each associated test in the TEST table. The primary key for this table is a composite key consisting of the TSTNO and VEHNO variables, where TSTNO is a foreign key (mapped to the TEST table). As such, the VEH can be logically joined to the TEST table by using the TSTNO key variable. The VEH table contains information such as vehicle measurements, make, model, and year.

The BAR table contains information concerning any configured static barriers into which a test vehicle crashes. Depending on the test configuration (TSTCFN), there will be either zero BAR records or one BAR record. The primary key for this table is the TSTNO variable, which is also a foreign key mapped to the TEST table. The BAR table can thus be joined to the TEST table by using the TSTNO key variable.

The OCC table contains information concerning the occupants (Example: dummy occupants) of the vehicle(s) involved in a test. There will be one record for each occupant. The primary key for the OCC table is a composite key composed of the TSTNO, VEHNO, and OCCLOC variables, where TSTNO and VEHNO are foreign keys mapped to the VEH table. As such, the OCC table can be joined to the VEH table using the TSTNO and VEHNO key variables.

The REST table contains information concerning the passive and active restraints applied to each occupant configured into a test. If an occupant is protected by three restraints, e.g. a 3-point belt, and front and side air bags, there will exist three restraint records for that occupant. The primary key for the REST table is a composite key composed of TSTNO, VEHNO, OCCLOC, and RSTNO variables, where TSTNO, VEHNO, and OCCLOC are foreign keys mapped to the OCC table. Thus, the REST table can be logically joined to the OCC table using the TSTNO, VEHNO, and OCCLOC key variables.

The INST table contains information concerning the data collection instruments (sensors) configured into a the test. There exists one record for each instrument configured into the test. The total number of instruments for any given test may range from zero (0), or no instruments, to well over 100 instruments per test. The primary key for this table is a composite key composed of the TSTNO and CURNO variables, where TSTNO is a foreign key mapped to the TEST table. As such, the INST table can be joined to the TEST table using the TSTNO key variable. There also exists an implied (but not explicit) relationship between the INST table and VEH table keyed on the VEHNO variable, and an implied relationship between the INST table and the OCC table keyed on the OCCLOC and SENLOC variables (SENLOC ~= OCCLOC). If the instrument is connected to a vehicle, the TSTNO and VEHNO variables can be used to join the INST and VEH tables. If the instrument was connected to an occupant then the TSTNO, VEHNO, and SENLOC variables can be used to join the INST and OCC tables.

Each table is exported into its own pipe-separated ("|") values ASCII text file, and then compressed using ZIP. In the event that the contents of any one table have been deemed too large to download easily, the table export may be broken up into multiple files of smaller size, making download easier.

Columns in the database export files are delimited by a comma and records are delimited by an end-of-line. Text fields are enclosed in quotation marks. Empty text fields consist of a set of quotation marks as a place holder.

For table structure information, see the NHTSA Reference Guide for the Vehicle Database & Link to User Guides.