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About 20 or so years ago, the big knock on SUVs was how dangerous it supposedly was for a much heavier vehicle to crash with a "normal" vehicle, e.g. a compact

About 20 or so years ago, the big knock on SUVs was how dangerous it supposedly was for a much heavier vehicle to crash with a "normal" vehicle, e.g. a compact car. Does that hold any weight?

spamizbad 9y ago
I think it depends what you're crashing into. Anything robust and stationary you're probably worse off. Fatal roll-over crashes were significantly worse for SUVs in the 90s, but I believe modern SUVs are now much safer. Accord to this graph (http://bestride.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/deaths-per-vehicle-type-graph.png http://bestride.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/deaths-per-ve...) the safest vehicles seem to be large cars and midsized SUVs. Pickups and large SUVs seem really dangerous. With that said, consider the role of each class of vehicle: Large cars (station wagons, vans) and mid-sized SUVs are all likely "family cars."
Hasz 9y ago
Crashing with a very large vehicle (semi scale) is still incredibly dangerous. Most SUVs are not even close to semi scale though. Large pickups (1-ton) are about ~7000lbs, more if loaded. A semi maxes out (by law) at nearly 80,000lbs, fully loaded. Crash technology has improved so much in 20 years that I would bet the risks posed by large SUVs is negligible, especially compared to a semi or similar. You may find this interesting. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2015 https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-t...
mirimir 9y ago
Yes, I'm sure that it's so. I mean, it's basic physics. There's more mass, higher center of gravity, and sometimes more ground clearance. So in collisions, the velocity and direction of the SUV change less, and it tends to ride over smaller vehicles. All of which are bad for them. On the other hand, those are all selling points for SUVs. In places with bad roads, especially ground clearance. That's why VW bugs and Ford pickups used to be so popular in Mexico, as I recall.

About 20 or so years ago, the big knock on SUVs was how dangerous it supposedly was for a much heavier vehicle to crash with a "normal" vehicle, e.g. a compact car. Does that hold any weight?

spamizbad 9y ago

I think it depends what you're crashing into. Anything robust and stationary you're probably worse off. Fatal roll-over crashes were significantly worse for SUVs in the 90s, but I believe modern SUVs are now much safer. Accord to this graph (http://bestride.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/deaths-per-vehicle-type-graph.png http://bestride.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/deaths-per-ve...) the safest vehicles seem to be large cars and midsized SUVs. Pickups and large SUVs seem really dangerous. With that said, consider the role of each class of vehicle: Large cars (station wagons, vans) and mid-sized SUVs are all likely "family cars."

Hasz 9y ago

Crashing with a very large vehicle (semi scale) is still incredibly dangerous. Most SUVs are not even close to semi scale though. Large pickups (1-ton) are about ~7000lbs, more if loaded. A semi maxes out (by law) at nearly 80,000lbs, fully loaded. Crash technology has improved so much in 20 years that I would bet the risks posed by large SUVs is negligible, especially compared to a semi or similar. You may find this interesting. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2015 https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-t...

mirimir 9y ago

Yes, I'm sure that it's so. I mean, it's basic physics. There's more mass, higher center of gravity, and sometimes more ground clearance. So in collisions, the velocity and direction of the SUV change less, and it tends to ride over smaller vehicles. All of which are bad for them. On the other hand, those are all selling points for SUVs. In places with bad roads, especially ground clearance. That's why VW bugs and Ford pickups used to be so popular in Mexico, as I recall.