4 ms·

They may have seen that but is it actually true? Is there high quality evidence for this?

by jahnu 4y ago

mlyle 4y ago
Higher mass means in a collision you "win" and have smaller accelerations than the other vehicle. Larger potentially means even in a single-vehicle accident, there is a greater distance to decelerate over and things are less likely to intrude into the vehicle. The IIHS, which systematically tests vehicles in simulated crashes, says: > A bigger, heavier vehicle provides better crash protection than a smaller, lighter one, assuming no other differences. The part of the vehicle between the front bumper and the occupant compartment absorbs energy from crashes by crumpling. As a result, the longer front ends of larger vehicles offer better protection in frontal crashes. Heavier vehicles also tend to continue moving forward in crashes with lighter vehicles and other obstacles, so the people inside them are subject to less force. https://www.iihs.org/topics/vehicle-size-and-weight https://www.iihs.org/topics/vehicle-size-and-weight There is some simple actuarial data there on their page, too, which shows there's a marked advantage but it is less than it used to be.
- pneumatic1 4y ago
  Also safety ratings are only with respect to other vehicles in the same class. Great ratings for a sedan don't say anything about how well it will perform head-on against an F-150.
jjoonathan 4y ago
It's true. Not only will the bigger object experience less F=ma acceleration in a collision, it will also have a stronger frame and deeper crumple zones.
kgwgk 4y ago
Even if it was, they could be objectively worse. For example, because they are more likely to be involved minor accidents. (Think of the well-known example of low-weight births having better survival rates for smoking mothers.)
jeffbee 4y ago
According to the IIHS, trucks had worse occupant fatality rates throughout automotive history until about 10 years ago, but have had lower rates than cars since then. https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/passenger-vehicle-occupants https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/passe...
justnotworthit 4y ago
https://academic.oup.com/restud/article-abstract/81/2/535/1517632 https://academic.oup.com/restud/article-abstract/81/2/535/15... Pounds That Kill: The External Costs of Vehicle Weight "Heavier vehicles are safer for their own occupants but more hazardous for other vehicles" https://static1.squarespace.com/static/591f304fa5790aa5cc8df828/t/5f6e298068ef927e2a1d4150/1601055105982/aa.pdf https://static1.squarespace.com/static/591f304fa5790aa5cc8df... https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/the-hidden-dangers-of-big-trucks/ https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/the-hidden-danger... Pickup trucks are getting larger and becoming a hazard to pedestrians and drivers of smaller vehicles

They may have seen that but is it actually true? Is there high quality evidence for this?

by jahnu 4y ago

They may have seen that but is it actually true? Is there high quality evidence for this?

Higher mass means in a collision you "win" and have smaller accelerations than the other vehicle. Larger potentially means even in a single-vehicle accident, there is a greater distance to decelerate over and things are less likely to intrude into the vehicle. The IIHS, which systematically tests vehicles in simulated crashes, says: > A bigger, heavier vehicle provides better crash protection than a smaller, lighter one, assuming no other differences. The part of the vehicle between the front bumper and the occupant compartment absorbs energy from crashes by crumpling. As a result, the longer front ends of larger vehicles offer better protection in frontal crashes. Heavier vehicles also tend to continue moving forward in crashes with lighter vehicles and other obstacles, so the people inside them are subject to less force. https://www.iihs.org/topics/vehicle-size-and-weight https://www.iihs.org/topics/vehicle-size-and-weight There is some simple actuarial data there on their page, too, which shows there's a marked advantage but it is less than it used to be.

pneumatic1 4y ago
Also safety ratings are only with respect to other vehicles in the same class. Great ratings for a sedan don't say anything about how well it will perform head-on against an F-150.

jjoonathan 4y ago

It's true. Not only will the bigger object experience less F=ma acceleration in a collision, it will also have a stronger frame and deeper crumple zones.

kgwgk 4y ago

Even if it was, they could be objectively worse. For example, because they are more likely to be involved minor accidents. (Think of the well-known example of low-weight births having better survival rates for smoking mothers.)

jeffbee 4y ago

According to the IIHS, trucks had worse occupant fatality rates throughout automotive history until about 10 years ago, but have had lower rates than cars since then. https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/passenger-vehicle-occupants https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/passe...

justnotworthit 4y ago

https://academic.oup.com/restud/article-abstract/81/2/535/1517632 https://academic.oup.com/restud/article-abstract/81/2/535/15... Pounds That Kill: The External Costs of Vehicle Weight "Heavier vehicles are safer for their own occupants but more hazardous for other vehicles" https://static1.squarespace.com/static/591f304fa5790aa5cc8df828/t/5f6e298068ef927e2a1d4150/1601055105982/aa.pdf https://static1.squarespace.com/static/591f304fa5790aa5cc8df... https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/the-hidden-dangers-of-big-trucks/ https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/the-hidden-danger... Pickup trucks are getting larger and becoming a hazard to pedestrians and drivers of smaller vehicles