Follow us today...
Safety in cars has evolved significantly over the years; some would argue it is too safe, as the growth of safety features has resulted in more complex and expensive vehicles.
Regardless, however, driven by advances in technology, research, and regulation, there's no cogent argument that society has not benefited greatly from the changes in car safety over the decades.
A Little Car Safety History:
- From the 1900s–1950s, cars were very unsafe. Open roofs and no seatbelts were the rule until the beginning of the two-point seatbelt in the late 50s.
- During the 1960s, Congress passed the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act in 1966, thereby establishing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to oversee vehicle safety in the U.S., which drastically reduced injury and fatality rates.
- Although the 1970s are known for the greatest muscle cars ever made, when it came to safety crash tests were initiated which led to the concept of crumple zones to absorb impact during a crash. Airbags were also first introduced, but as an optional safety feature in the 1970s.
- By the late 1980s and early 1990s, front airbags became mandatory; Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) were introduced and proved useful for controlled stopping and keeping skids under control. Side airbags were also added during this time
- From 2000 to today, more technically advanced features were developed and added that included Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Monitoring (the most useful modern safety feature), and Adaptive Cruise Control.
What Consumer Reports Has to Say About Car Safety
In a recent newsletter from Consumer Reports, 10 vehicle models failed to achieve recommendation status from their automotive experts.
"Although these 10 vehicles meet federal safety regulations, they lack two or more of the minimum qualities we think safe cars should have, including standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection and good scores in each of our braking, emergency handling, rollaway risk, and usability tests," states the newsletter.
The newsletter also included one additional complaint with the 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage, saying that it received a low CR score in their emergency handling test because it weighs only 2,084 pounds.
In fact, according to the InsuranceNavy website, the average weight of today's models broken down by vehicle type are:
- Average smart car weight - 1,500 pounds
- Average subcompact car weight - 2,600 pounds
- Average compact car weight - 2,600 to 3,000 pounds
- Average midsize car weight - 3,300 pounds
- Average large car weight - 4,400 pounds
- Average subcompact SUV - 3,000 to 3,500 pounds
- Average midsize trucks/SUV - 3,500 to 6,000 pounds
- Average large SUV - 5,400 to 6,000 pounds
- Average weight of compact trucks- 5,000 to 5,500 pounds
"No matter how many safety features a car has, there's no escaping the realities of physics," says Emily Thomas, PhD, manager of safety at CR's Auto Test Center. "In a crash with a larger vehicle, a smaller vehicle is more likely to bear the brunt of crash damage."
What The Economist Has to Say About Car Safety
In a recent article titled "Too Much of a Good Thing," published in The Economist, economic analysts agree that bigger vehicles win in collisions with smaller vehicles…at the cost of more human lives.
In the article, The Economist likens the root of the problem as a type of Cold War Arms Race amongst new car shoppers that is responsible for turning today's cars into misguided automotive missiles.
The focus of the article is that their data shows more people are dying from collisions than are being saved despite the growing trend of improvements in automotive safety features. This is because larger vehicles almost always "win" in a collision with smaller, lighter vehicles.
The parallel of those years of heightened threat of nuclear war in the past with car shopping trends as an Arms Race today, is that all scenarios come to the same conclusion: a suboptimal outcome for society as a whole.
In other words, car shoppers are buying large vehicles as an assurance of safety at the cost of the lives of owners of smaller vehicles.
The Big Question: Are American Cars Too Big?
The question of whether cars in America are "too big" is no longer a subjective question, finds The Economist. Evaluated from several perspectives, including safety, environmental impact, urban planning, and consumer preference, the cons of a large vehicle outweigh the pros.
Pros of Large Vehicles:
- Safer for Drivers: Larger vehicles, such as SUVs and trucks, often provide better visibility and are perceived as safer for the occupants in the event of a collision due to their size and weight.
- Cultural Factors: In the U.S., there is a cultural preference for larger vehicles, partly driven by the vast landscapes and the need for long-distance travel. Trucks and SUVs also serve practical purposes for work, recreation, and family transportation.
- Market Trends: Automakers have responded to consumer demand by focusing on producing larger vehicles, which are often more profitable than smaller cars.
Cons of Large Vehicles:
- Questionable Fuel Efficiency: Larger vehicles typically consume more fuel, contributing to higher greenhouse gas emissions. Although advancements in technology have improved fuel efficiency, the environmental impact remains significant.
- Resource Abuse: Bigger cars require more materials to manufacture, which increases their environmental footprint from production to disposal.
- Parking and Traffic: Large vehicles require more space, both on the road and in parking areas. In cities with limited space, this can exacerbate parking shortages and traffic congestion.
- Road Wear: Heavier vehicles contribute more to road wear and tear, leading to higher maintenance costs for infrastructure.
- Hazardous for Society: However, these larger vehicles can pose a greater risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants of smaller vehicles in collisions. The increasing size of vehicles has been linked to a rise in pedestrian fatalities in the U.S.
Auto manufacturers respond to the Big Question by stating the evolution of car safety is now reflecting a shift from merely surviving a crash to actively preventing them. Their claim is that modern cars are now safer than ever, with technology that both protects occupants and helps avoid accidents altogether.
The Economist points out that auto manufacturers are not totally to blame for today's cars; It is the consumer who dictates how new models are designed and built.
However, their consensus is that convincing the American public to switch to smaller vehicles is unlikely to happen.
10 Cars, SUVs, and Trucks That Are Less Safe
That said, here is a summary of the ten models CR analysts say are less safe than they should be and why (presented in alphabetical order):
1. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2024
Price Range: $36,800 - $69,900
CR MPG: Overall 17 / City 11 / Hwy 24 mpg
Rated #4 of 17 Full-sized pickup trucks
Safety Fail: Low scores in CR's braking and emergency handling tests.
2. Chevrolet Tahoe 2024
Price Range: $54,600 - $79,900
CR MPG: Overall 17 / City 11 / Hwy 24 mpg
Rated #7 of 13 Large SUVs
Safety Fail: Low scores in CR's braking and emergency handling tests.
3. Dodge Durango 2024
Price Range: $39,670 - $95,995
CR MPG: Overall 18 / City 12 / Hwy 25 mpg
Rated #16 of 19 Midsized SUVs 3-row
Safety Fail: Low score in CR's emergency handling test; AEB with pedestrian detection unavailable.
4. GMC Sierra 1500 2024
Price Range: $37,700 - $82,500
CR MPG: Overall 17 / City 11 / Hwy 24 mpg
Rated #5 of 17 Full-sized pickup trucks
Safety Fail: Low scores in CR's braking and emergency handling tests.
5. GMC Yukon 2024
Price Range: $58,200 - $98,755
CR MPG: Overall 17 / City 11 / Hwy 24 mpg
#5 of 13 Large SUVs
Safety Fail: Low scores in CR's braking and emergency handling tests.
6. Jeep Wrangler 2024
Price Range: $31,995 - $91,545
CR MPG: Overall 18 / City 13 / Hwy 24 mpg
#14 of 17 Midsized SUVs
Safety Fail: Low braking and emergency handling scores; AEB with pedestrian detection unavailable.
7. Land Rover Defender 2024
Price Range: $56,400 - $118,600
CR MPG: Overall 18 / City 12 / Hwy 26 mpg
#10 of 17 Luxury midsized SUVs
Safety Fail: Low scores in CR's braking and emergency handling tests.
8. Lincoln Navigator 2024
Price Range: $83,265 - $114,095
CR MPG: Overall 16 / City 11 / Hwy 22 mpg
#3 of 7 Luxury large SUVs
Safety Fail: Low scores in CR's braking and emergency handling tests.
9. Mitsubishi Mirage 2024
Price Range: $16,695 - $19,595
CR MPG: Overall 37 / City 28 / Hwy 47 mpg
#5 of 5 Subcompact cars
Safety Fail: Low score in CR's emergency handling test; weighs just 2,084 pounds.
10. Toyota Sequoia 2024
Price Range: $61,275 - $81,265
CR MPG: Overall 18 / City 12 / Hwy 23 mpg
#1 of 13 Large SUVs
Safety Fail: Low scores in CR's braking and emergency handling tests.
For additional articles related to car safety, here are a few useful ones for your consideration.
- Is The Left Coming for Your Pickup Truck?
- These Vehicles Have Killed Thousands
- EV Owners are Causing an Obesity Epidemic
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWritesfor daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
COMING UP NEXT: The First Place to Look if Your Tesla is Missing
Image source: Deposit Photos
Follow us today...
