The Safest Cars on the Road Today
By Teresa Ambord
Can you guess what the safest cars on the road are? If you guess one of the big old tanks from a few decades ago, you'd be wrong. Because of the size of old cars like LTDs that weigh in at more than two tons, people assume they are safer than today's smaller cars.
But the fact is, those cars did not have nearly the safety equipment that modern cars have. And heavy isn't always better. Take SUVs for example. In many ways they are safe, but some of them do tend to roll.
Representatives from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) claim that those great old tanks can't compare with new models for safety. Cars built today have such safety equipment as:
- Side airbags. Many people don't think of side impact crashes being severe enough to be fatal, but they often are. The main purpose of the side airbags is to protect the head of the driver from striking the hood of the car, or being struck by the intruding vehicle.
- Three point seatbelts. The increased safety of a seatbelt that stops not only the lower body, but also the upper body from flying forward is obvious. But the biggest advantage of the three point seatbelts might be that people are more likely to use them since they are more comfortable and easier to use.
- Improved crumple zones. Crumple zones are built to absorb the energy of a crash and provide some cushioning. A well-built crumple zone can mean the difference between life and death.
- Improved front airbags. Airbags were originally added to cars to protect drivers who didn't wear seatbelts. In high-speed crashes they worked well, but were too powerful for low-speed crashes. Now they are redesigned with a dual-level of inflation and the placement of the airbags has been reworked to ensure protection of the head of the driver or passenger.
Among late model cars, the larger ones do tend to be safe, but it's not due to the overall size of the car, but the fact that they have longer crumple zones that prevent damage to the safety cage (driver and passenger compartment). According to the IIHS, heavier cars protect you better in two-car collisions, since the heavier vehicle tends to push the lighter one backwards, reducing the force felt in the heavier car. But in single car crashes, heavier cars tend to not fare well.
What About Multiple-Car Accidents?
The IIHS has rated these five cars to be the safest of all time in multiple-car collisions:
- Buick LeSabre (model year 2000)
- Honda Civic (model year 2001)
- Lincoln LS (model year 2001)
- Volkswagen Passat (model years 2000 and 2001)
- Volvo S80 (model year 2001)
Get Help From the Web
Before you buy a new car, you may want to log onto the Web site below to download their latest brochures that are packed full of information on the safety of late model cars. Each year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests new cars, light trucks, SUVs, and vans for safety. They pay special attention to those models that are most popular with consumers, have been redesigned, or boast improved safety equipment. Vehicles are then rated on a five-star system, five being the safest vehicles.
If you are looking at cars in 1995-1998 model-year range, the IIHS ranked only 22 percent of those cars as good in terms of safety. Cars built in 1999-2001 scored much higher, with 52 percent earning the highest overall score for safety. If you are looking at slightly used cars, Forbes has rated 2004 models and come up with the safest cars for that year. Click here to see pictures of the cars that rated highest for safety.
