Experiencing a car accident can be a heart-wrenching experience. Not only did your vehicle get damaged and your day interrupted, but now you need to deal with all the after-effects of dealing with the insurance companies, filing police reports and then getting your vehicle repaired so that you can get back to your routine.
This often bodes the big questions of which is better? If you’re going to be in an accident anyway, which sized vehicle is the safer option? In this article, we are going to review the safety of large versus small vehicles and old versus new.
Big Versus Small
When you base safety purely on size difference, it’s no wonder that larger vehicles are known for being safer than smaller vehicles. Physics dictates the larger and heavier an object – or in this case a vehicle- is the better it will fare in a collision.
When looking at how impact analysis is performed, many vehicles are compared to their own size and not necessarily to their larger and smaller counterparts. This helps manufacturers boast about vehicle safety based purely on skewed results. Keeping all of this in mind and base physics in play, the bigger and heavier your vehicle is compared to the other guy, the better it will typically fare in a collision.
Old Versus New
There is an old argument that has been going around for years among vehicle fanatics that older vehicles were built sturdier and stronger for impact, while newer vehicles were built to crumple and thus absorb the shock and potentially bring harm to the driver and passengers.
There is a reason that newer vehicles were built this way, you see physics have taught us that the crumple effect in major collisions do in fact absorb the majority of the impact and saves lives. Rather than all the force being directed to the passengers, it is instead being taken by the vehicle.
Alongside this crumple feature, newer vehicles have an immense amount of safety features installed. Including airbags to both the front and sides, sensors, stability controls, and even reinforced roofs on some SUV brands. Alongside these built in safety features, newer vehicles have gone through rigorous testing to ensure they meet top safety standards and reduce fatalities.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to fender benders and collisions, nobody is having a good day. While the type of vehicle you choose can provide additional safety and protection, chances are you will eventually experience one type of accident or another. If you’re located in the Sonoma County area, be sure to give Downtown Autobody a call for all of your auto body repair needs!
