SUVs are safer to drive. True or false?

[jds2006]

I'm a new driver and I will be commuting to college this fall. I currently drive a suzuki forenza but my dad wants me to trade cars with him for about a year until he thinks I'm an experienced driver because he thinks I'll be safer in a SUV than in a sedan. However, I just want to drive my suzuki because I don't want to have to get used to a new car and I don't want to pay more for gas.

So, is he right or wrong? Are SUVs really safer to drive in than smaller cars?

 

[Lonyo]

Safer if you crash, probably.
But I drive a small car so I am less likely to hit things on narrow roads etc and end up with scrapes and minor bumps. Plus it's easier to be aware IMO of where all the car is in a smaller car.

 

[Vic]

It depends on the driver. With a poorly-skilled or inattentive driver prone to accidents, SUV's are safer due to their weight and size. With a relatively skilled and attentive driver, then smaller cars are safer because their far superior handling enables one to avoid accidents in the first place.

 

[NFS4]

Queue Ornery with a thousand links, quotes and indented paragraphs...

 

[MX2]

I think safety, for the most part, is in the hands of the driver.

 

[wasssup]

You've got a cool dad (I wanted the "old" car when I was in college, but he forced me to take the new car).

SUV's are safer imho if you're a safe driver. Unfortunately most SUV drivers think they're invincible and end up crashing into crap or flipping over due to their false sense of security.

<- dislikes SUV's, and unfortunately can't get roadsters (miata, s2000) because i'm too paranoid that i'll get run over by a tank.

 

[iamwiz82]

http://www.informedforlife.org/viewartcl.php?index=7

While that is not 100% of the information, as you can see a Camaro driver is more likely to drive than a minivan owner, but that makes sense since Camaro owers would tend to take more risks.

 

[Markbnj]

Originally posted by: jds2006
I'm a new driver and I will be commuting to college this fall. I currently drive a suzuki forenza but my dad wants me to trade cars with him for about a year until he thinks I'm an experienced driver because he thinks I'll be safer in a SUV than in a sedan. However, I just want to drive my suzuki because I don't want to have to get used to a new car and I don't want to pay more for gas.

So, is he right or wrong? Are SUVs really safer to drive in than smaller cars?

Not if you overreact to a lane incursion.

You're safer in an SUV if you get hit. An SUV is probably less tolerant of your screwups, as the video I linked shows. An SUV will cost you more if you hit anything, since they paradoxically have very ****** bumper systems. And an SUV will cost you an arm and a leg to operate, which for someone at college age would usually be a significant concern.

 

[BeauJangles]

False, SUVs create a false sense of security that, particularly in inclimate weather increase the chances of the driver being involved in an accident.

... or at least that is my observation

 

[thomsbrain]

in any given situation, you're more likely to have a crash in an SUV (minus conditions where the AWD helps you). and as fifth gear has shown, sometimes the SUV isn't even the best vehicle to be in when you do get in a crash (unless you really didn't want your legs, anyway). they did a great head-on crash with a Land Rover and a little euro-MPV, and the MPV's occupants would have survived, but the Land Rover's occupants would have suffered severe injuries at the least, and possibly died. there was severe passenger space intrustion (i've seen the exact same thing in Ford F-150 crash tests). body-on-frame might be great for towing, but it sucks for safety.

 

[desy]

article for dad SUV's not safer
And this is based on the IIHS results, you can always count on the insurance industry to come up with the truth cause its all based on the $

"Are the best performers the biggest and heaviest vehicles on the road? Not at all. Among the safest cars are the midsize imports, like the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. Or consider the extraordinary performance of some subcompacts, like the Volkswagen Jetta. Drivers of the tiny Jetta die at a rate of just forty-seven per million, which is in the same range as drivers of the five-thousand-pound Chevrolet Suburban and almost half that of popular S.U.V. models like the Ford Explorer or the GMC Jimmy. In a head-on crash, an Explorer or a Suburban would crush a Jetta or a Camry. But, clearly, the drivers of Camrys and Jettas are finding a way to avoid head-on crashes with Explorers and Suburbans. The benefits of being nimble?of being in an automobile that's capable of staying out of trouble?are in many cases greater than the benefits of being big. "

 

[mugs]

You're (probably) safer unless you roll over, because you're likely to be heavier than whatever you hit. But your safety will come at the expense of someone else's, and since his concern is obviously that you'll cause an accident I think it's kind of irresponsible to put others at more risk because you can't drive.

FWIW there are advantages to smaller cars - they're more maneuverable so you can potentially AVOID an accident rather than survive the accident.

 

[Aimster]

my X5 can probably take a good hit and Id walk away easily.

my highlander ... it has a 5 star rating but it doesnt feel as safe as the X5.

both have 5 star crash ratings on all 4 tests.

 

[xanis]

In my opinion no, because half of the people who drive SUVs are moms with too many kids driving Suburbans or Land Cruisers and they all fail at driving. I guess it would be safer if you crash...

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Aimster
my X5 can probably take a good hit and Id walk away easily.

my highlander ... it has a 5 star rating but it doesnt feel as safe as the X5.

both have 5 star crash ratings on all 4 tests.

What are you up to now, 8 cars? Are you still delivering pizzas?

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aimster
my X5 can probably take a good hit and Id walk away easily.

my highlander ... it has a 5 star rating but it doesnt feel as safe as the X5.

both have 5 star crash ratings on all 4 tests.

What are you up to now, 8 cars? Are you still delivering pizzas?

I have 3 cars and dont worry what I do for a living.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aimster
my X5 can probably take a good hit and Id walk away easily.

my highlander ... it has a 5 star rating but it doesnt feel as safe as the X5.

both have 5 star crash ratings on all 4 tests.

What are you up to now, 8 cars? Are you still delivering pizzas?

I have 3 cars and dont worry what I do for a living.

So pizza delivery it is.

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aimster
my X5 can probably take a good hit and Id walk away easily.

my highlander ... it has a 5 star rating but it doesnt feel as safe as the X5.

both have 5 star crash ratings on all 4 tests.

What are you up to now, 8 cars? Are you still delivering pizzas?

I have 3 cars and dont worry what I do for a living.

So pizza delivery it is.

ok pizza delivery guy with 3 cars

 

[Lithium381]

if you know what you're doing then it doens't matter......there is a false misconception that SUV's are more sturdy, when in fact they're not.....it just gives people false sense of security.....idiots, learn how to drive

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aimster
my X5 can probably take a good hit and Id walk away easily.

my highlander ... it has a 5 star rating but it doesnt feel as safe as the X5.

both have 5 star crash ratings on all 4 tests.

What are you up to now, 8 cars? Are you still delivering pizzas?

I have 3 cars and dont worry what I do for a living.

So pizza delivery it is.

ok pizza delivery guy with 3 cars

Yeah, you'd be crazy to make a claim like that.

Wait...

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aimster
my X5 can probably take a good hit and Id walk away easily.

my highlander ... it has a 5 star rating but it doesnt feel as safe as the X5.

both have 5 star crash ratings on all 4 tests.

What are you up to now, 8 cars? Are you still delivering pizzas?

I have 3 cars and dont worry what I do for a living.

So pizza delivery it is.

ok pizza delivery guy with 3 cars

Yeah, you'd be crazy to make a claim like that.

Wait...

youre too into my life.
jealous?

 

[fitzov]

Originally posted by: Vic
It depends on the driver. With a poorly-skilled or inattentive driver prone to accidents, SUV's are safer due to their weight and size. With a relatively skilled and attentive driver, then smaller cars are safer because their far superior handling enables one to avoid accidents in the first place.

Oh lord. Aren't you the same guy who thinks traction control doesn't make a difference with AWD?

The problem with SUVs is that they tend to roll over easier due to the higher center of gravity. This fact is independent of who is driving.

 

[sygyzy]

Untrue.

 

[Brutuskend]

Safer if you run into someone in a SMALL car. That is safer for YOU!

More likely to roll over if over steer or you take a corner too fast than a car lower to the ground.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: fitzov

Originally posted by: Vic
It depends on the driver. With a poorly-skilled or inattentive driver prone to accidents, SUV's are safer due to their weight and size. With a relatively skilled and attentive driver, then smaller cars are safer because their far superior handling enables one to avoid accidents in the first place.

Oh lord. Aren't you the same guy who thinks traction control doesn't make a difference with AWD?

The problem with SUVs is that they tend to roll over easier due to the higher center of gravity. This fact is independent of who is driving.

Maybe you should try driving a Subaru AWD to find out about that?

No fact of driving is ever independent of the skill of the driver. A good driver can always adapt to and drive within the potential of the equipment.

And if you actually had any reading comprehension, you would realize that you agreed with me while pretending not to with poor logic and an uncalled-for red herring insult. The problem with SUV's is that they don't handle as well as small cars (which I said, you simply specified why). OTOH, they are larger and heavier, which makes them safer in accidents against smaller cars. So if you're a poor and/or inattentive driver to whom the more superior handling of a small car would provide no benefit, then it would make more sense to drive the vehicle that would be more survivable in an accident. If you are a better and more attentive driver, then it would make more sense to drive the vehicle with which you could avoid accidents in the first place.

FYI: I drive a small car.