Is it true that big cars are safer than small ones? Does size matter when it comes to safety? This question does not have a precise solution. However, there are figures.
Isn’t it true that a bigger car is safer?
According to IIHS statistics on fatal motor vehicle crashes in Indiana, drivers of small vehicles have the greatest fatality rates (39% for cars, 26% for pickups and SUVs, and 2% for heavy trucks).
Why?
The momentum of the car increases with weight. We know that kinetic energy is equal to the product of half the mass and the square of the speed from our high school physics classes.
The vehicle is safer as its weight increases. A huge pickup truck is almost four times safer than a passenger vehicle if we consider that it is 2.5 times heavier, even when loaded.
The position of the center of gravity has an impact on safety during an accident. The car sustains less damage in a collision if it is lower since less force is exerted on it. Therefore, people looking to purchase the safest vehicle should think about purchasing one of the big, bulky sedans offered for sale in Indiana.
Crash Test Results
Safety systems have advanced to a degree never previously seen, which was a major element in surviving the accident. Turning to contemporary crash tests is sufficient. Even the most severe collisions don’t defeat modern vehicles.
The crash test, however, is conducted in a controlled environment and simulates the most precise collision in a “perfect” event. But occasionally, a Ford Fiesta collides with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Unfortunately, even the most severe crash tests of today cannot demonstrate the design’s flaws when a car is in front of it since the programmable deformation zones do not line up. Because of this, it is not totally accurate that the manufacturer’s compact hatchback is as safe as a full-size SUV.
Can a Small Car Be Safer than an Off-Road Vehicle?
Standards for safety continue to change, as do designs and technologies. As a result, consumers who purchase a tiny, fuel-efficient city car will benefit from superior protection for the driver and passengers than those who drive an outdated SUV.
Adaptive Safety in Modern Vehicles
Currently, passive safety systems in cars are far more complicated. The crumple zone, which is front-controlled and absorbs the collision momentum, is the foundation of passive safety systems. Its components convey vibrations and gravity stresses as well as steady and soothe the body’s position.
The majority of them today are manufactured from contemporary foams, like EPP, for instance. Due to its excellent shock absorption, this material is specifically utilized to create parts that dampen and cover radiators. Additionally, it is highly robust, thus it merely momentarily deforms rather than disintegrating into bits. It is also present in automobile interiors. It is utilized to create cervical spine-stabilizing and -protecting head restraints. supports the position of the body when put in chairs and headrests. While successfully dampening negative effects is the door filler created from it. Expanded polypropylene is also used to make parts of the floor and ceiling cladding. The posture of the legs when driving is made pleasant by footrests made of this material.
Braking
The short stopping distance of a little car is due to the fact that the inertia force is mass dependent. A car with four passengers will weigh far less overall than an SUV with only one driver. As a result, a light car’s driver will be less likely to be in an accident because it is simpler to slow down and stop reliably earlier.
Overtaking
On a country road, a large truck will take longer to accelerate when overtaking. Additionally, it needs additional room to enter its lane again. In comparison, starting and finishing an overtake is much simpler for a driver of a light automobile.
Additionally, compact cars often have greater handling, which makes it possible to avoid hazardous circumstances. For inexperienced drivers, ease of parking or maneuvering can be a big benefit. For instance, a big car that is 10 years old has a less durable design and offers less protection to the driver and passengers in the case of a rollover. It might also lack contemporary electronics and the ESP system. Only in 2012 was this approach made a requirement for auto equipment.
After all, both large and tiny cars can be safe because safety ultimately depends largely on the abilities and level of concentration of the drivers. However, a modern sedan is more reliable in a collision than an antiquated SUV, and if we compare two cars from the same year, the larger one will be more secure.
After all, the most important thing is to drive carefully! Stay safe.
