At 8:22 PM -0500 2/16/00, Patrick Austin wrote:
They're portrayed as safe
vehicles (which they are, if they don't roll over)
Actually, that's not quite true anymore. The latest studies
have found that SUVs are less safe (more injuries/fatalities) in
single vehicle accidents, while being a little more safe in
multi-vehicle accidents. The advantage in multi-vehicle accidents is
probably due to their weight advantage, while the greater injuries in
single vehicle accidents is probably due, in large part, to
roll-overs and loss-of-control. What none of these studies take into
account, however, is accident avoidance. SUV's have longer braking
distances and far worse handling compared to even an average family
sedan or station wagon. I would much rather be able to avoid an
accident in the first place, than get by saved by completely crushing
the poor guy in the smaller car.
I drive much slower when behind the wheel of my girlfriend's
Pathfinder, but I still feel much safer in my GTI.
Lee
W. Lee Hendrick
[email protected]
http://soliton.ucsd.edu/~hendrick/
