Safest vehicle?

[zippyRN]

is there a US equivalent of NCAP ?

http://www.euroncap.com/Content-Web-Article/a09ae60e-8ee4-4e3e-b784-d7e07a1c1168/euro-ncaps-best-performing-cars-of-2010.aspx

something like a BMW 5 series or Volvo V70 or XC 90 may in fact be safer than a truck ...

[mobey]

Just a quick note: I have yet too see airbags go off in a rollover or side impact.

Roof collapse on trucks.... YES.

That is a common denominator no matter what brand of vehicle. Surface area physics answer that question.

I will stand by my original opinion about heavy vehicles. Although I agree they are more stable, once you do get in a wreck, you are nearly guaranteed more serious injury than a light vehicle.

Although I realize you are joking tnuiqs, I have been to an LAV (tank on wheels) accident. 2 of them hit head on at 50km/hr. Every single person had some sort of injury, and 4 required surgery. Once again, this supports crumple zones, ABS, and airbags. Surrounding yourself in heavy steel just does not work.

buckle823: Have you ever hit a bump or "washboard" with a 1/2 tonne? The back end gets a little tricky to control sometimes.

[Richard B the EMT]

Agreed ... quoting someone in EMT city ... 4 wheel drive does not mean that you can STOP faster .

Wow. Someone quoting ME?

The full quote I use is" 4WD helps get you going, but has nothing to do with stopping you."

[mobey]

The full quote I use is" 4WD helps get you going, but has nothing to do with stopping you."

My smashed up Durango, and the 3 vehicles I hit agree

[tniuqs]

Richard .. yes I couldn't give credit where credit was due, I coulnt remember who put that up in comments but wise words.

Mobey: Correction LAV vs anything else ... good thing they don't let me drive a device that has big ass guns on it .. I could make the world a safer place to drive and eliminate some cell phone text ers that should be "corrected" .... te he j/k.

cheers

[Just Plain Ruff]

I've seen people die in a mini cooper and I've seen people die in a huge ass hummer. Depends on the wreck.

Size does matter, especially in porn, er another discussion

But truly, I like a car with more metal around me. not necessarily the largest car but one that is bigger than the one that hits me, as long as I don't get broadsided on the drivers side.

I have a Ford Freestyle and a chevy cavalier, which one do I want to be in when I get creamed - the ford.

No two wrecks are the same and someone my survive in a smaller vehicle while the dead one is in the large road rhinocerous that rolled after hitting the smaller vehicle.

Airbags, crumple zones, airbags, seat belts, airbags and seatbelts. Get where I'm going with this?

[Richard B the EMT]

No two wrecks are the same and someone my survive in a smaller vehicle while the dead one is in the large road rhinocerous that rolled after hitting the smaller vehicle.

Airbags, crumple zones, airbags, seat belts, airbags and seatbelts. Get where I'm going with this?

As I said...

There's no one way of things. Crash survivability can vary, both by type accident, and vehicle model.

[buckle823]

Notwithstanding the increased risk of rollover, it just seems like it would better to be higher than the bumper of the unit that nails you in a side impact. You might toast your leg and/or hip, but I think you have a better survival chance in a full size truck/suv.

[scubanurse]

Notwithstanding the increased risk of rollover, it just seems like it would better to be higher than the bumper of the unit that nails you in a side impact. You might toast your leg and/or hip, but I think you have a better survival chance in a full size truck/suv.

But think about the physics of it... you're higher up than the bumper of the other car...it hits you on the side... you're going to flip. Also you seem to be focusing on others hitting you... you have just the same chance of hitting a semi-truck as a dodge neon hitting you.

[zippyRN]

Notwithstanding the increased risk of rollover, it just seems like it would better to be higher than the bumper of the unit that nails you in a side impact. You might toast your leg and/or hip, but I think you have a better survival chance in a full size truck/suv.

except of course when the KE transferred from the hitting vehicle flips you over ...