raph all you can know blog

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Small cars on the lot


Are SUV's as safe as they appear?

The United States leads the world not only in the number of inefficient vehicles such as large SUVs but also in the largest amount of retail space per person. Are big cars actually safer than smaller ones? In the past it was true that small cars where safer, but since, car security technologies have evolved, it isn’t as true as it was before. Speaking of technologies, are big cars still as thirsty as they where, is the fuel economy worthwhile going with a compact car? This essay will explain why big cars aren’t as good as they where.

Lots of big car owners, claim their SUVs or pick-ups for there safety. But in fact, there isn’t much difference. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there are more people that die in small pick-ups than in small cars. Ninety-six children, aged between one and three years old, die every in small car, for one million registered accidents, compared to one hundred and four, aged between one and three years old, die every in small car, for one million registered accidents. Before, bigger meant stronger and safer, but technologies related to the structure of cars have substantially evolved since the last few years, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently conducted a crash test between a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air. The test shows how safety technology has made cars more crashworthy. “Crumple zones and other energy-absorbing features did not also decades away. But even the older car's structure proves weak compared with the modern model.” (IIHS, December 2011). Small cars are the segment that benefits the most of these technologies, because the weaknesses are reduced and offer better strength. So we can conclude that big cars aren’t as safe as they look big.