Question:
Why do people think SUVs are safer?
Yogi
2008-06-06 09:20:58 UTC
I always thought bigger was safer until I just got into an accident where a woman driving a Honda Pilot slammed into my little Pontiac Solstice going 80 on the freeway. She rolled and her car was completely totaled and everyone in it had to go to the hospital; my car skidded across the freeway and had just minor body damage and I wasn't injured at all.

So why are SUVs supposedly safer?
Ten answers:
2008-06-06 09:48:38 UTC
People think they're safer in a SUV because it's big and heavy and gives the macho feeling they can't be harmed.



SUVs are NOT safer.



SUVs roll over more often than cars.



The size and weight make SUVs more hazardous to anyone they might hit.



A 2003 NHTSA study showed SUVs have nine-time the rollover risk. Analysis from about 4,000 accidents involving children shows that the rollover risks outweigh any benefit from the larger vehicle. See here: http://www.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/10/15/vehicle.weight.ap/



Children involved in rollover crashes were three times more likely to be injured in the accident.



The numbers increased dramatically when children were not properly restrained in an SUV, with a risk of injury 25 times higher than children who were properly restrained.



Of those children who were injured in SUV rollovers, and not properly restrained, almost half suffered serious injuries compared to just three per cent of those who were appropriately restrained in SUVs.



And for children in passenger cars who were appropriately restrained during an accident the risk was less than two per cent.



Here is a kicker that is sure to be challenged (especially by the insecure and vain):

New York Times reporter Keith Bradsher says, "[SUV owners] tend to be people who are insecure and vain. They are frequently nervous about their marriages and uncomfortable about parenthood. They often lack confidence in their driving skills. Above all, they are apt to be self-centered and self-absorbed, with little interest in their neighbors and communities. No, that’s not a cynic talking – that’s the auto industry’s own market researchers and executives."



Washington Monthly’s review of his book summarizes the research more aggressively:



Unlike any other vehicle before it, the SUV is the car of choice for the nation’s most self-centered people; and the bigger the SUV, the more of a jerk its driver is likely to be.



Here’s hoping that in addition to high gas prices, both these studies help everyday consumers (and mobsters!) change their purchase behavior to a slightly more environmentally friendly vehicle.
2008-06-06 09:30:37 UTC
A lot of people are convinced that SUVs are safer because they can dominate the road. If you're in the big car and you get hit, you'll be fine.



The truth of the matter is that SUVs are top-heavy and can easily flip. They suck up all of your gas and aren't even remotely safe...the only perk to them is if you have lots of kids or carpool.



I don't know why people think they're so safe! They should probably research them before buying, because they're not even close.
Roo
2008-06-06 09:30:01 UTC
SUVs do have a high roll over risk but usually the bigger the car, the safer you feel. A lot of them have 4 wheel drive so people feel safer with that. I rolled over my Jeep after hitting ice, car was totaled but I did not have a scratch on me. Air bags didn't even deploy, the Jeep just had a really good frame and protected me.
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2016-10-21 06:17:06 UTC
WHAT THE PHYSICS SAYS: E=0.5*m*(g)² which means the significant element is the speed. in spite of the actuality that, a crash adverse to a heavier motorcar corresponds to extra ability to take up interior the deformation of the wonder absorbers. A frontal wonder from yet another automobile adverse to an SUV will continuously be extra negative. That does in spite of the actuality that no longer guard SUV drivers a lot extra even as they collide adverse to a tree because the deceleration of the human body (risky for the backbone) is an identical. in recent times, a good type of the safe practices of a automobile relies upon on FEM modelling which makes it conceivable for numerical simulations of crashes and optimization. Wether small or large, all can carry out nicely. the reason being that larger automobile have longer metal beams that are extra in all possibility interior the middle to bend.... as this style of quick structure supplies you reward. the volume of ability which will be absorbed in the time of a wonder is given by utilizing: w*d (distance expanded by utilizing the metal certain ability). that is in turn basically significant to have a nicely soaking up the front of the automobile. a reliable engineering can make up for a shorter automobile. Even extra suitable: a reliable engineering will enable like interior the compact Mercedes a category to the motor to slip lower than the automobile in case of a frontal collision AND easily... what do formula1 pilots use to be secure adverse to shocks at severe speeds? metal with 800N/mm²??? NO!!!! carbon fibres composites with a ability of 2800N/mm² ! which means we may be able to construct extremely secure automobile that are effortless, EVEN safer than in recent times if provide up being technologies conservative and settle for that metal isn't the perfect secure practices.
Mr Rational
2008-06-06 09:30:50 UTC
Well, most of the time bigger IS better. But TALLER is not. SUV's constantly roll over because they are so tall. Also, you cannot go by your one experience, and make an overall assessment. I would have to say you were very fortunate. Which is good. What would life be without ya? :)
2008-06-06 09:29:24 UTC
The SUVs are higher off the ground and most people see them as protection against someone trying to get in unwanted.
Lover not a Fighter
2008-06-06 09:26:52 UTC
People think (like you did) bigger is better.



But just as you saw the SUV are higher and less stable. Only if all the moms knew... We can save so much gas.





Good Luck...
2008-06-06 11:25:20 UTC
They're not supposedly safer. It's just a myth coming from people who don't know nothing about cars.

Cheers!
carl l
2008-06-06 09:38:13 UTC
I'd say it was a freak thing. I'd rather have 6,000 lbs. behind me than a shoe box that weighs approx. 2900 to 3100 lbs. Roll over are mostly due to the driver being enept.
Cap504
2008-06-06 10:07:22 UTC
Because they're larger.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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