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I actually suspect part of the reason people keep buying larger cars is because larger cars are safer and sometimes get better safety scores because in a two ve
by estiaan 3y ago
I actually suspect part of the reason people keep buying larger cars is because larger cars are safer and sometimes get better safety scores because in a two vehicle collision a heavier vehicle will experience less acceleration in the crash. Also more space to absorb the impact, increasing the time over which the acceleration happens. This genuinely makes heavier and larger cars safer if they are designed properly and maintain the same braking performance, which is totally possible.
However the issue is that a larger car is only a safety advantage if your car is large compared to other cars on the road, so if everyone else also buys heavier cars no one wins and pedestrians, the environment and so on all lose.
- acdha 3y agoAlso they’re worse for everything else: the poor handling, especially with overpowering, means you’re more likely to get in a crash, etc. Manufacturers have spent billions making them less likely to lose control, roll over, etc. but the physics are unforgiving. Drivers discount that because they like to think that those are things they control and just won’t do, but every year some fraction of people will hit ice, be distracted or angry, etc.