First ever convertible crash test - Karmavision

http://karmavision.tv/video/464/first_ever_convertible_crash_test.html

It's summertime and not surprisingly, convertible sales are up. While nothing beats driving around with the top down, exactly how safe are convertibles when compared to a regular car? For the first time ever, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted crash tests on convertibles. To earn the top award, a vehicle had to have good ratings in all three Institute crash tests, front, side and rear. Among ten mid-sized models tested, the best performers were the Saab 9-3 and the Volvo C70. Both of which earned the overall Top Pick for crash protection. That means, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, these two convertibles are actually safer in many ways, than many vehicles they've tested with fixed roofs. Automakers from Saab say they compensated for the absence of the roof by reinforcing the windshield header rail, the A-pillars, and also made the door sills wider and larger than in a regular sedan. In addition, to be a Top Pick the Institute had an extra requirement for convertibles -- a roll bar system -- as rollovers are the deadliest situation for convertibles. The Saab 9-3 has a supplemental restraint system that is designed to anticipate and react to a potential rollover situation.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• convertible
• crash
• test
• car
• vehicle
• safety
• driving
• summer
• safe
• accident
• volvo
• saab

[smartfortwodiesel]

Don't sit on the rear deck parade style. Those pop up bars could send you flying.

[felsner1]

The Saab and the Volvo... Why am I not surprised?

[trb0myk]

@bommmmmmmm You definitely have a point there, I flipped a car once (into a tree line) thankfully i was in a hard top!!

[bommmmmmmm]

Of course, pop up bars help no doubt, but there still a fundamental risk in rolling over in a convertible. They only protect you if you roll over on a surface free from obstructions. It’s a little bit of a false sense of security. Roll over or into a fence, Crash barrier, line of trees, road signs, guard rails etc.. your at a serious disadvantage by comparison with being in a hard top.

[rectortommy]

Very cool! I like my Saab convertible even better now!

[KkF00]

@JarredSisler

Yeah, Im sure they still do... Owned by GM from 1989 to 2010. Then in February they are selling them to spyker

[psychocycledad]

god damn socialists.... always making safe responsible cars

[JarredSisler]

Since when don't they make Saabs any more? I around 100% sure they still do, but I could be off by +10%.

[bikercc]

to bad they dont make saabs anymore

[pchedraoui]

LMAO WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT HAPPEN