Safer Cars Still Don't Eliminate Accidents and Injuries
by
Steven M Sweat on Apr. 14, 2016
Accident & Injury Car Accident Accident & Injury Accident & Injury Personal Injury
Summary: While car manufacturers are developing safety technology that is reducing accidents, nothing will eliminate human error and motor vehicle negligence.
If you grew up in the 1950s or 1960s, you probably remember riding around in the family car; maybe curled up in the spacious floorboard or even lying across the back window. It wasn't uncommon at all in those days; most cars didn't even have seat belts and kids frequently came up with their own unique way of motoring in comfort and style that didn't involve being strapped into the back seat.
Things have changed a lot since that time: cars are required to have seat belts and people are required to wear them; many car models not only come standard with anti-lock brakes, they contain sensors that can anticipate a collision and apply them automatically to avoid it; and young children are required to use car seats and seat belts in order to keep them safe.
Today more than ever, new cars come with safety features that attempt to help you and your loved ones avoid sustaining serious injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests all types of cars for crash-worthiness each year in an effort to provide consumers with safety information for their top picks.
NHTSA began testing cars in the 1970s, and IIHS broadened those tests beginning in 1995. They conduct a specific group of crash tests: two different types of frontal crash tests, a side impact crash test, a test of roof strength and head restraint and seat testing.
The frontal crash tests examine how a car performs when it strikes another object or car with a specified percentage of overlap between the two. The small overlap frontal test occurs when 25 percent of the car, on the driver's side, strikes a five foot high wall. The moderate overlap frontal test examines safety when 40 percent of the car's front end hits a two foot barrier. This test is designed to mimic front end collision with another vehicle. Both tests indicate how well the occupant space holds up to avoid passenger injury.
Though the side-impact crash test also measures how well the occupant space holds up in a crash, it also evaluates how well smaller occupants fair in a side impact accident because women and children are more likely to sustain serious injury in this scenario.
Roof strength is important in rollover accidents. Although side airbags help offset potential injury significantly, stronger roofs still provide the most safety. To test roof strength, a large plate is applied slowly, but with significant force, to the roof of the vehicle. The amount of force is determined by the vehicle's weight and is called the strength-to-weight ratio. Cars with higher ratings can help protect occupants, even when they are not wearing a seat belt, though the chances of reducing a serious injury are much greater when seat belts are worn.
Seat construction and head restraints are important for preventing whiplash injuries, which are the most frequently reported injuries on insurance claims. Whiplash occurs most often in rear-end collisions. Though most people know whiplash can be painful, many may not be aware that whiplash can result in a brain injury that can take a great deal of recovery time. Head rests and proper seat construction can minimize this risk.
The IIHS currently divides their ratings into two categories: Top Safety Picks and Top Safety Picks +. Both categories require good ratings in the five testing areas, but the plus category must earn an advanced or superior rating for the front crash tests.
There are a number of cars that earned the the Top Safety Picks + rating for 2016, including the Mini Cooper. Consumers should keep in mind, however, that smaller cars may not be as safe as a larger car that didn't earn a safety rating. There are a number of great makes of safe cars to choose from, including specific models from Kia, Hyundai, Honda, Infinity, Mercedes, Volvo and Subaru.
Despite these advances in car safety, more than 1.3 million people die in automobile crashes each year and between 20 and 50 million are injured, many seriously. Often these injuries mean that victims can no longer work or enjoy their lives as they once did. If you suffer an injury, or lose a loved one in an auto accident, consulting an attorney who is familiar with personal injury and wrongful death suits is the recommended course of action. An attorney can help you navigate the complexities of filing your claim and helping to ensure that you receive all the compensation that you are entitled to.
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/ratings-info/frontal-crash-tests
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List
http://asirt.org/initiatives/informing-road-users/road-safety-facts/road-crash-statistics
Things have changed a lot since that time: cars are required to have seat belts and people are required to wear them; many car models not only come standard with anti-lock brakes, they contain sensors that can anticipate a collision and apply them automatically to avoid it; and young children are required to use car seats and seat belts in order to keep them safe.
Today more than ever, new cars come with safety features that attempt to help you and your loved ones avoid sustaining serious injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests all types of cars for crash-worthiness each year in an effort to provide consumers with safety information for their top picks.
NHTSA began testing cars in the 1970s, and IIHS broadened those tests beginning in 1995. They conduct a specific group of crash tests: two different types of frontal crash tests, a side impact crash test, a test of roof strength and head restraint and seat testing.
The frontal crash tests examine how a car performs when it strikes another object or car with a specified percentage of overlap between the two. The small overlap frontal test occurs when 25 percent of the car, on the driver's side, strikes a five foot high wall. The moderate overlap frontal test examines safety when 40 percent of the car's front end hits a two foot barrier. This test is designed to mimic front end collision with another vehicle. Both tests indicate how well the occupant space holds up to avoid passenger injury.
Though the side-impact crash test also measures how well the occupant space holds up in a crash, it also evaluates how well smaller occupants fair in a side impact accident because women and children are more likely to sustain serious injury in this scenario.
Roof strength is important in rollover accidents. Although side airbags help offset potential injury significantly, stronger roofs still provide the most safety. To test roof strength, a large plate is applied slowly, but with significant force, to the roof of the vehicle. The amount of force is determined by the vehicle's weight and is called the strength-to-weight ratio. Cars with higher ratings can help protect occupants, even when they are not wearing a seat belt, though the chances of reducing a serious injury are much greater when seat belts are worn.
Seat construction and head restraints are important for preventing whiplash injuries, which are the most frequently reported injuries on insurance claims. Whiplash occurs most often in rear-end collisions. Though most people know whiplash can be painful, many may not be aware that whiplash can result in a brain injury that can take a great deal of recovery time. Head rests and proper seat construction can minimize this risk.
The IIHS currently divides their ratings into two categories: Top Safety Picks and Top Safety Picks +. Both categories require good ratings in the five testing areas, but the plus category must earn an advanced or superior rating for the front crash tests.
There are a number of cars that earned the the Top Safety Picks + rating for 2016, including the Mini Cooper. Consumers should keep in mind, however, that smaller cars may not be as safe as a larger car that didn't earn a safety rating. There are a number of great makes of safe cars to choose from, including specific models from Kia, Hyundai, Honda, Infinity, Mercedes, Volvo and Subaru.
Despite these advances in car safety, more than 1.3 million people die in automobile crashes each year and between 20 and 50 million are injured, many seriously. Often these injuries mean that victims can no longer work or enjoy their lives as they once did. If you suffer an injury, or lose a loved one in an auto accident, consulting an attorney who is familiar with personal injury and wrongful death suits is the recommended course of action. An attorney can help you navigate the complexities of filing your claim and helping to ensure that you receive all the compensation that you are entitled to.
Sources:
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/ratings-info/frontal-crash-tests
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List
http://asirt.org/initiatives/informing-road-users/road-safety-facts/road-crash-statistics