Automotive

Everything You Need to Know about SUVs Being Safer than Sedans

In choosing between a sedan and an SUV, safety is often at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Most people think SUVs are inherently safer merely because they are bigger vehicles placed on the road at a greater height. The reality is a bit different, however. The following are the key safety differences between SUVs and sedans based on real data as well as research so that you can make a more informed decision.

Advantages of SUVs during a Head-on Collision

Some of the most significant safety differences between sedans and SUVs lie in a head-on collision. A study of over 80,000 high-collision rates within the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database revealed that sedan drivers are far more likely to perish if they hit head-on with SUVs. The odds of fatal outcomes for sedan drivers were virtually 7.6 times that of SUV drivers for head-on impacts.

This discrepancy remains even if the sedan scores better on crash tests than the SUV, with sedan drivers being 4.5 times more likely to perish. The chief reason is physics: SUVs are heavier, taller, and therefore far better at absorbing and distributing crash forces. SUV bumpers, being taller, will naturally hit higher on the sedan’s bumper line, causing more damage to the smaller vehicle’s space where passengers ride.

Why SUVs Are Safer for Their Passengers

There are several physical and design features which make SUVs safer for their own passengers under many crash scenarios: 

1. Weight and Size: SUVs weigh much more than sedans, and SUVs’ greater weight contributes to their greater momentum at impact, reducing the force their passengers feel.

2. Broader Crush Zones: The ample size of SUVs produces additional absorbent regions that extend between the impact point and passenger compartments.

3. Higher Bumper: An elevated SUV bumper will elevate the point of impact to levels above the sedan’s crash-absorbing framework at collision moments therefore creating more damage to the sedan than to the SUV.

4. Advanced Safety Features: Modern SUVs come equipped with advanced driver safety technologies such as electronic stability control (ESC) as well as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping aid which help prevent accidents or minimize their severity during collisions.

All these characteristics serve to make SUVs overall safer for passengers in a crash with lighter vehicles.

The Rollover Risk: The Greatest Shortcoming of SUVs

The danger from automobile collisions using SUVs is reduced for vehicles in opposing directions but these vehicles present higher rollover risks than sedans. SUVs present instability issues when they are cornered during quick turns since their elevated center of gravity makes them lose balance.

Statistics indicate single-vehicle crashes resulted in SUV rollover occurrences ranging from 14% to 23% but sedans showed about 10% rollover instances. Yet modern electronic stability systems along with redesigned SUV features have led to substantial rollover reductions during the last years.

However, rollovers are more severe and most likely to cause major injury or death. It is a factor to keep in mind if you drive on winding roads a lot or where sharp turns are to be expected.

Impact on Other Road Users: A Double-Edged Sword

The improved safety of SUV occupants does not translate to being safer for the users of other road transportation modes. Such vehicles actually create more risks for cyclists and pedestrians and for drivers of compact cars. Scientific studies demonstrate SUVs possess considerably elevated pedestrian fatality rates than sedans when it comes to road accidents. The elevated front end and greater weight of SUVs increase injury seriousness to vulnerable road users on impact. It is particularly worth noting for frequent users of urban or pedestrian-congested networks.

Summary

In essence, SUVs make their passengers safer during accidents, especially if they crash with smaller cars. It is their weight, size, and construction which achieve that. SUVs do, however, present a more dangerous rollover risk themselves and pose a greater threat to other cars and pedestrians on the road, however. Sedans will remain more stable and will present a smaller rollover risk, but are less safe for the passengers if they crash with bigger vehicles like SUVs. The safest car is a function ultimately of your own environment, tendencies, and values on the road.