msmith1199 wrote:
John & Angela wrote:
RVUSA wrote:
donandmax wrote:
the crash tests were better then some full size gas guzzlers. The Smart is made by Mercedes Benz
Which ones?
The reality of a small car in a crash.
Yah there's no doubt that little cars have a tough time with big vehicles in collisions. Physics kinda wins out. But they do have a good reputation and track record. Fatalities are low compared to many brands and they have a long track record. Over a million cars on the road etc etc. In europe they have done a little research into why and some things like stopping distance, maneuverability, a real roll cage, multiple air bags etc seem to contribute to their low fatality and injury rate. Whatever it is it seems to be working. Best thing is to not get hit. :) Then again, I am a motorcyle guy from way back. You get used to trying to not hit things when you are on two wheels. :)
Stats can be misleading. Fatalities may be low, but is that because of the safety of the car or could it be because of the type of drivers who bought Smart Cars? According to stats one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road is the Corvette. Is it really that the Corvette is dangerous, or is it the fact that people who buy Corvette's don't buy them to drive 55?
Overall fatal traffic accidents are down over the last few decades. Less people die each year in car accidents now, than died each year 25 years ago. Depending on the financial interests of the person using that stat, you'll see all kinds of different reasons claimed. Safer vehicles and more seatbelt use is a big factor, but what is just as big of a factor is medical response. 30 years ago paramedics were few and far between. Ambulance crews would show up throw you in the meat wagon, and take you to the hospital and many people died on the way. Getting paramedics to crash scenes now saves thousands of lives each year. Not to mention the advances in medicine altogether.
Exactly. Thats kinda what the focus was. Why is it that you are less likely to (a.) have an accident in a smart car. (b.) be less likely to be injured when there is one. Lots of factors showed including everything to maneuverability and stopping distance to where they are driven. The results were similar in the few countries they looked at. Don't know if they looked at the results in the US but I think it would be hard to look at big numbers as so few are sold in the US compared to the rest of the world and the size of the vehicles on this side of the pond are all huge in comparison. I know some fire departments have had special training on how to cut apart the tridium cell of a smart car because its just that strong and there is really nothing else like it at present. I doubt the smart car or other micro cars will ever go mainstream on this side of the pond as long as fuel is as dirt cheap as it is. If the fuel here ever catches up with the rest of the world though I can see smaller economical cars finding a market. Who knows. Either way we love driving our little convertibles. If we ever need a back seat again we'll have to go up a size but at least for the next few years that won't happen.
