SUV owners should no longer be as concerned about a rollover as a new technology, electronic stability control, now helps to keep all four tires on the road. As a matter of fact, SUV drivers are among some of the least likely to die in a car accident in New York or elsewhere — a statistical fact that has not always been the case. However, today’s SUVs have proven to be much safer than cars, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The installation of stability control was forced much quicker on SUVs than in smaller cars. This system uses the vehicle’s brakes and engine power to keep the vehicle on all fours.
Our New York personal injury attorneys understand what a giant leap this is in the safety of these larger vehicles. The deaths rate of these SUVs dropped nearly 70 percent over the last 10 years. SUVs used to have a death rate of 82 per million vehicles for the 1999 to 2002 models and they now have a death rate of 28 per million for the 2005 to 2008 models.
15 Safest SUVs, according to ABC News:
-Audi A6 4-door 4WD
-Mercedes E-Class 4-door 4WD
-Toyota Sienna
-Ford Edge
-Nissan Armada
-Land Rover Range Rover Sport
-Land Rover LR3
-Honda CR-V
-Jeep Grand Cherokee
-Acura MDX
-Mercedes E-Class 4-door
-Lexus RX 400h
-Lexus GX 470
-Mercedes M-Class
-Saab 9-3 4-door
“The rollover risk in SUVs used to outweigh their size/weight advantage, but that’s no longer the case,” says Anne McCartt, the institute’s senior vice president for research. “It’s a dramatic change and a testament to the incredible effectiveness of electronic stability control.”
A study conducted by the IIHS finds that electric stability control and other changes in vehicle design have decreased the chance of death in an accident for drivers a number of passenger vehicles. The improvement is far more noticeable for SUVs.
The current death rate for drivers of small, four-door cars is 72 per million vehicles for the 2005 to 2008 models. While still showing a decrease, it’s only down 35 percent from the death rate of 110 per million in the 1999 to 2002 models.
“This report explains why Americans equate size with safety, even though small cars today are safer than ever before,” says Wade Newton, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
Another finding of the IIHS report is that drivers of small cars are nearly three times more likely to die in a traffic collision than in a rollover accident. This shows how stability control is not likely to have as much of a beneficial effect in these cars.
“For years, small cars have represented the low end of the economic spectrum and received fewer safety and enhanced design features,” says Sean Kane of Safety Research & Strategies, which advises plaintiff lawyers, government and auto suppliers. “Undoubtedly, that has an effect.”
If you take a look at driver death rates by vehicle style, you will clearly see who is safer. Minivans ranked as number one safest with a death rate of 25 driver deaths per million registered vehicles. SUVs aren’t far behind with a death date of 28, followed by pickup trucks that average 52 driver deaths per million registered vehicles. Cars are in last place with a death rate of 56. Still, it is important to point out that smaller car drivers are worse off than drivers of bigger cars as with small, four-door cars report a death rate of 82 when larger sedans reports a death rate of 46 per million registered vehicles.
“The trend from the reported data is clear: The lighter the vehicle, the higher the likelihood that its driver will be killed in a collision with another vehicle,” says Verma, now a consultant.
Top 10 vehicles with the highest driver death rates:
-Nissan 350Z
-Nissan Titan crew cab
-Chevrolet Aveo
-Chevrolet Cobalt
-Nissan Titan extended cab
-Kia Spectra
-Chevrolet Malibu Classic
-Hyundai Tiburon
-Nissan Versa
-Chevrolet Colorado extended cab
If you or a loved one has been seriously or fatally injured in a New York City car accident, contact personal injury lawyer Nicholas Rose for consultation about your rights. To make a free and confidential appointment call 1-877-313-ROSE (7673).
More Blog Entries:
May Raises Awareness for Motorcycle Accidents in New York and Elsewhere, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, May 23, 2011
New York Car Accidents Place State in Top Ten for Most Costly State, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, May 19, 2011
