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Ford, Hyundai, Audi, and VW doing well at IIHS

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PricklyPete

PricklyPete

Lifer
Looks like their crop of new cars from Ford, Hyundai, Audi, and VW are doing well in safety...

http://www.iihs.org/news/default.html#060910

Audi, Ford, Hyundai, and Volkswagen models earn the 2010 TOP SAFETY PICK award

Based on new rollover test results the 2010 Audi A4 and Q5, Ford Flex and Fusion (twins Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ), Hyundai Tucson, Lincoln MKT, and Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen earn the Institute's TOP SAFETY PICK award.

Each vehicle earns the highest rating of good for roof strength in rollover crashes. To measure roof strength, a metal plate is pushed against one corner of a vehicle's roof at a constant speed. The maximum force sustained by the roof before 5 inches of crush is compared to the vehicle's weight to find the strength-to-weight ratio. This is a good assessment of vehicle structural protection in rollover crashes. Good rated vehicles have roofs that can withstand a force equal to at least 4 times the vehicle's weight. For comparison, the current federal standard is 1.5 times weight.

TOP SAFETY PICK recognizes the vehicles that earn the highest rating of good for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and that have electronic stability control, which is standard on all of these models. Earlier this year Ford made changes to the roof structures of the Flex, Fusion, and MKT. The award applies to Flex models built after January 2010, Fusions built after April 2010, MKTs built after March 2010.
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I find it interesting that Ford made changes already this year to enhance the roll over safety in the car. Part of me feels that should have been done that way to begin with...but kodos to them for being responsive.
 
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http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr060210.html

ARLINGTON, VA — New test results show that some automakers are doing a good job of designing vehicle roofs that perform much better than current federal rollover standards require. The roofs on other vehicles need improvement. In the first Insurance Institute for Highway Safety roof strength tests of midsize SUVs, 6 earn the top rating of good for rollover protection, 1 is acceptable, and 5 others earn the second lowest rating of marginal.

Midsize SUVs earning good ratings are the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox (twin GMC Terrain) built after March 2010, Jeep Liberty (twin Dodge Nitro), Toyota Highlander and Venza, plus the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Kia Sorento, both 2011 models. The 2010 Ford Edge is rated acceptable. The worst performers, which earn marginal ratings, are the Honda Accord Crosstour, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-7, Mitsubishi Endeavor, and Nissan Murano, all 2010 models.

In addition to earning good ratings for rollover protection, the Equinox, Grand Cherokee, Highlander, Sorento, and Venza also earn the Institute's Top Safety Pick award. To achieve this, a vehicle has to earn good ratings for occupant protection in front, side, rear, and rollover crashes. It also has to have electronic stability control.
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LTC8K6 said:
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr060210.html
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When vehicles roll, their roofs hit the ground, deform, and crush. Stronger roofs crush less, reducing injury risk from contact with the roof itself. Stronger roofs also can prevent people, especially those who aren't using safety belts, from being ejected through windows, windshields, or doors that have broken or opened because the roof deformed. Roofs that don't collapse help keep people inside vehicles when they roll.

Don't know if I agree with that. Being in a rolling vehicle is like being in a pinball machine. Especially if you're at highway speeds. I'd rather take a chance being ejected. Although, these usually good and bad turnouts in each situation.
 
I've known people personally that have been in a car during a rollover. With someone else. Person that stayed inside died. They got ejected and lived. But, like I said, doesn't always turn out that way in every situation.
 
The only reason you'd die in a rollover inside the car is if you weren't belted, or something odd happened to the vehicle.

There is no way you should count on getting lucky and getting "thrown clear". That is the silliest and most dangerous advice, imo.

Seems also to be a hard to stamp out idea.

Much better off staying belted in and allowing the vehicle's body to absorb energy.

Likely you will be crushed if you get ejected.
 
That's why it was only pertaining to NOT being belted in. Although, there isn't a time I'm never without my seal belt on. So, all of this has been hypothetical anyway.
 
LTC8K6 said:
Seems also to be a hard to stamp out idea.
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Yes...there was a guy I knew at my old job that was really bright...but he constantly feared that he would get killed because he had his seatbelt on...so he would disable every car that had a chime for the seatbelt. He swore that he would have a better chance getting thrown from the car no matter how much data he was shown supported the opposite action.
 
Had a guy argue the same for motorcycle helmets even when He was shown the evidence from when Florida went from helmets, to no helmets, to back again to be much safer with a helmet. Lets see, hard plastic shell and padding protecting your brain or nothing?
 
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desy said:
Had a guy argue the same for motorcycle helmets even when He was shown the evidence from when Florida went from helmets, to no helmets, to back again to be much safer with a helmet. Lets see, hard plastic shell and padding protecting your brain or nothing?
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I heard some guys say the extra weight of a helmet can snap your neck!
 
Maybe, and there are cases where having a seatbelt on can be detrimental too.
However if your playing the odds its statistically proven safer
 
At least i know I cannot be run over by another car while still tumbling in my own car (although I could get impacted again). Personally, I prefer the car to take the force of another impact, and not my body.

Counting on being "thrown clear" is foolish. Plain and simple. It is about as smart as thinking you can just "jump up" when your airplane crashes to survive.
 
PhoKingGuy said:
<------------Former first responder

No, you really never want to get ejected
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Your right. Statistics of auto-rollovers show that it is much more likely to survive remaining in the vehicle than being ejected. Anecdotal evidence is usually flawed.
<----------ER Physician/ Advanced Trauma Life-Support Provider
 
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