Alert icon
We're changing our privacy policy. This stuff matters.  Learn more  Dismiss

MINICARS MICROCARS CRASH TEST FAIL CAR CARS AUTOS New Crash

Loading...

Sign in or sign up now!
495,323
Loading...
Alert icon
Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon

Uploaded by on Jun 15, 2009

MINICARS MICROCARS CRASH TEST FAIL CAR CARS AUTOS New Crash Tests Demonstrate the Influence of Vehicle Size and Weight on Safety in Crashes Results Are Relevant To Fuel Economy Policies Three front-to-front crash tests, each involving a microcar or minicar into a midsize model from the same manufacturer, show how extra vehicle size and weight enhance occupant protection in collisions. These Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests are about the physics of car crashes, which dictate that very small cars generally can't protect people in crashes as well as bigger, heavier models.

"There are good reasons people buy minicars," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "They're more affordable, and they use less gas. But the safety trade-offs are clear from our new tests. Equally clear are the implications when it comes to fuel economy. If automakers downsize cars so their fleets use less fuel, occupant safety will be compromised. However, there are ways to serve fuel economy and safety at the same time."

The Institute didn't choose SUVs or pickup trucks, or even large cars, to pair with the micro and minis in the new crash tests. The choice of midsize cars reveals how much influence some extra size and weight can have on crash outcomes. The Institute chose pairs of 2009 models from Daimler, Honda, and Toyota because these automakers have micro and mini models that earn good frontal crashworthiness ratings, based on the Institute's offset test into a deformable barrier. Researchers rated performance in the 40 mph car-to-car tests, like the front-into-barrier tests, based on measured intrusion into the occupant compartment, forces recorded on the driver dummy, and movement of the dummy during the impact.

Laws of physics prevail: The Honda Fit, Smart Fortwo, and Toyota Yaris are good performers in the Institute's frontal offset barrier test, but all three are poor performers in the frontal collisions with midsize cars. These results reflect the laws of the physical universe, specifically principles related to force and distance.

Link to this comment:

Share to:
see all

All Comments (385)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • want safety? buy an SUV.

  • @isftish

    not only in Singapore, all over the world.

    Take a look at the German Autobahn :D

  • dumb lobbyism for american car producers

  • In Singapore, people who drive bigger cars drive recklessly, change lanes and pull out from minor roads carelessly. By some coincidence, bigger cars cost more, so such owners are richer, and have a superiority complex, and think that others must always give way to them, regardless of right of way. They also will intimidate the driver in front, imagine a huge SUV driving so close, you can only see the front grille, with headlights directly in your mirrors.

  • The smart car just flies away when hit, literally...scary

  • Small cars aren't unsafe, it's just to many unnecessary large vehicles on the road. Most times you see large large pickups and suv carrying one single occupant. Also this video also failed to highlight large pickup rollover rate.

  • ehm bin selber aus Frankfurt

  • I wish he would say he everyone should buy small cars instead of saying hey everyone should get a big hybrid.

  • I wasn't really paying attention to all that safety stuff, but those slow motion car crashes were f**king cool lol

  • @TheEvil567 i think i would feel safer riding a bike than drive a smart

View all Comments »
Loading...

0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more