First of all, if you're not
driving properly and wearing a seatbelt, no car is safe. But as
more studies are undertaken and research sheds light on just what
the safety issues are, some automakers are responding, which will
continue to mean more safety features in coming years. 
Consumer advocacy groups and the government are both involved in
this effort as well. In response to calls for safety standards,
NHTSA developed a system in 2000 to rate rollover risks in vehicles.
Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports, called the system
inadequate because tests didn't measure moving vehicles. Congress
has directed NHTSA to create a new test by late 2002 that would
be based on actual road handling. Recent developments on the safety front include a government mandate
that all SUVs with a wheelbase of 110 inches or less display rollover
risk warning labels, and the progress toward rollover crash tests
and ratings by late 2002. Rolling over isn't the only safety concern, though. In 2000, Consumer
Reports also criticized limited load capacity in some SUVs, pointing
out that while cargo areas may be large, the load capacity (how
much weight a vehicle can safely carry including passengers and
cargo) is low enough that it can easily be exceeded. Some SUVs hit
capacity with five 180-pound adults in them - not counting any groceries
or gear. A related problem: Not every manufacturer displays load capacity
information, which can make it difficult to know whether a vehicle
is overloaded. Since that criticism was made, some automakers said they would
start providing that information. Ford, for example, said it would
begin using doorjamb stickers for its SUVs and pickups. Jeep and
Mercedes are two that already make the numbers accessible. In summer of 2001 Consumer Reports rated the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero
Limited "not acceptable" because it tipped onto two wheels
making sharp turns at 37 miles per hour. Mitsubishi disputed the
magazine's conclusion. Consumer Reports has only given that rating three other times in
the past 13 years. In 1988, the Suzuki Samurai received that rating,
and in 1996 the Isuzu Trooper and Acura SLX received it. That same
year, the Ford Bronco II was criticized for having a tendency to
tip. In 1997, the Mercedes-Benz A-class was recalled and the problem
fixed after it rolled over in similar tests. Based on government and consumer groups' research, the safest SUVs
to drive and ride in are those that have a wider wheel base and
a higher load capacity, and ride closer to the ground. For drivers
of very small cars, the safest thing to do is try and steer clear
of large SUVs, especially if they're traveling at high speeds.
Get free Car Insurance Quotes. Content provided by Insweb
|
