4 ms·

This is true of a lot of small cars, like the Smart Car and the Fiat 500. They have pretty rigid structures but no crumple zones. The car survives, but everyone

This is true of a lot of small cars, like the Smart Car and the Fiat 500. They have pretty rigid structures but no crumple zones. The car survives, but everyone suffers massive internal bleeding. If any part of the car itself touches your head or chest in an accident, you basically die instantly.

Reason077 7y ago
NCAP crash testing works by placing sensors on test dummies and measuring the impact forces on their "bodies" under various crash scenarios. In Euro NCAP testing, the Fiat 500 has a 3 star rating[1], and the Smart fortwo has a 4 star rating[2]. So while not among the safest cars on the market, they are certainly not the deathtraps you suggest. The Smart in particular offers very respectable occupant protection for its size. [1] https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/fiat/500/26307 https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/fiat/500/26307 [2] https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/smart/fortwo/7894 https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/smart/fortwo/7894
- lonelappde 7y ago
  > The Smart in particular offers very respectable occupant protection That's reassuring > for its size. That's not. Passengers risk rises with the size of the incoming car, not the car they are riding in.
  - Reason077 7y ago
    "Passengers risk rises with the size of the incoming car, not the car they are riding in." There are much larger cars that perform worse on occupant protection tests than the Smart does. For example, the Jeep Wrangler: https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/jeep/wrangler/34192 https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/jeep/wrangler/34192
freehunter 7y ago
I drove a 500 for years and had a couple of crashes. They absolutely are not as deadly as you describe. I had a motorcycle rear-end me at 55mph and I did not suffer any injuries and the motorcyclist walked away from the crash with mild injuries. I hit a deer at 55 and while it totaled the car, again I suffered no injuries. The 500 very much DOES have crumple zones. “Basically die instantly” does anyone actually believe that?
- lonelappde 7y ago
  Neither of those is remotely comparable to a head on collision with 500+ lb car at 500-100mph relative. If an opposing car pushes a part of your car into your body, that's like you being hit by a car while standing in front of a wall. Once the pressure wave hits your body, where is it going to go? You can't be "thrown clear" through the back of your own car.
  - freehunter 7y ago
    If you honestly believe that, I recommend reading the crash test results linked in other comments or finding them on your own. This isn't a hypothetical, it's actually been tested and this "you will die instantly" is complete nonsense.
- themagician 7y ago
  Uhhh in neither of those instances did you get hit by anything with substantial mass. If you did, you’d be dead. Survivor bias.

Reason077 7y ago

NCAP crash testing works by placing sensors on test dummies and measuring the impact forces on their "bodies" under various crash scenarios. In Euro NCAP testing, the Fiat 500 has a 3 star rating[1], and the Smart fortwo has a 4 star rating[2]. So while not among the safest cars on the market, they are certainly not the deathtraps you suggest. The Smart in particular offers very respectable occupant protection for its size. [1] https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/fiat/500/26307 https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/fiat/500/26307 [2] https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/smart/fortwo/7894 https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/smart/fortwo/7894

lonelappde 7y ago
> The Smart in particular offers very respectable occupant protection That's reassuring > for its size. That's not. Passengers risk rises with the size of the incoming car, not the car they are riding in.
- Reason077 7y ago
  "Passengers risk rises with the size of the incoming car, not the car they are riding in." There are much larger cars that perform worse on occupant protection tests than the Smart does. For example, the Jeep Wrangler: https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/jeep/wrangler/34192 https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/jeep/wrangler/34192

freehunter 7y ago

I drove a 500 for years and had a couple of crashes. They absolutely are not as deadly as you describe. I had a motorcycle rear-end me at 55mph and I did not suffer any injuries and the motorcyclist walked away from the crash with mild injuries. I hit a deer at 55 and while it totaled the car, again I suffered no injuries. The 500 very much DOES have crumple zones. “Basically die instantly” does anyone actually believe that?

lonelappde 7y ago
Neither of those is remotely comparable to a head on collision with 500+ lb car at 500-100mph relative. If an opposing car pushes a part of your car into your body, that's like you being hit by a car while standing in front of a wall. Once the pressure wave hits your body, where is it going to go? You can't be "thrown clear" through the back of your own car.
- freehunter 7y ago
  If you honestly believe that, I recommend reading the crash test results linked in other comments or finding them on your own. This isn't a hypothetical, it's actually been tested and this "you will die instantly" is complete nonsense.
themagician 7y ago
Uhhh in neither of those instances did you get hit by anything with substantial mass. If you did, you’d be dead. Survivor bias.