Evaluation of the energy absorbing properties of the steering wheel assembly of a motor vehicle@ or of the relative merit of alternative designs of such assemblies@ is a complex problem involving human tolerance@ vehicle and occupant dynamics during an accident@ and frequency and severity of injuries to various body areas. Two fundamental approaches are being used currently for steering wheel assembly evaluations: laboratory impact tests of varying degrees of complexity@ and simulated collision tests. This SAE Recommended Practice describes a simplified laboratory procedure for evaluating the characteristics of steering wheel assemblies under simulated driver impact conditions. Basically@ the test procedure employs a torso shaped body block which is impacted against the steering wheel assembly and the transmitted load -time history is measured.