MINICARS MICROCARS CRASH TEST FAIL CAR CARS AUTOS New Crash Tests Demonstrate the Influence of Vehicle Size and Weight on Safety in Crashes Results Are Relevant To Fuel Economy Policies Three front-to-front crash tests, each involving a microcar or minicar into a midsize model from the same manufacturer, show how extra vehicle size and weight enhance occupant protection in collisions. These Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests are about the physics of car crashes, which dictate that very small cars generally can’t protect people in crashes as well as bigger, heavier models. “There are good reasons people buy minicars,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “They’re more affordable, and they use less gas. But the safety trade-offs are clear from our new tests. Equally clear are the implications when it comes to fuel economy. If automakers downsize cars so their fleets use less fuel, occupant safety will be compromised. However, there are ways to serve fuel economy and safety at the same time.” The Institute didn’t choose suvs or pickup trucks, or even large cars, to pair with the micro and minis in the new crash tests. The choice of midsize cars reveals how much influence some extra size and weight can have on crash outcomes. The Institute chose pairs of 2009 models from Daimler, Honda, and Toyota because these automakers have micro and mini models that earn good frontal crashworthiness ratings, based on the Institute’s offset test into a deformable barrier …
Originally posted 2010-03-29 11:20:44.
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
it does seem bad, i admit that. and yes after spinning around like that you would have quite a headache. but i want to see the real evaluation of the smart car like in other videos. i think theyr hiding it from us to make big cars seem better.
It’ll buff out.
lol… they dont even test cars on barriers at 60 MPH.. of course a car hitting a person at 60 MPH would kill the person instantly.
I wonder if they can actually put G-meters in crash tests……to actually measure the amount of deceleration instead of relying on dummies alone….
Yahh Shock! Horror! Talk about stating the bloody obvious! What you should do is test the Smart and the Mercedes against a pedestrian. All cars are bloody dangerous if you crash into other cars. Try these tests on any car – SUV, Merc or Smart and crash it at 60mph, I’d bet all of them would produce fatalities.
Have in mind that Smart is not a car. It is just a vehicle, but not a car.
i want to see this smart car tested against a big rig!!!!
i guess they will not tested against SUV..stop buying small ugly car..they are not save at all..don’t have money used public transport instead.. or work harder..anyway SUV is not expensive these days. second hand SUV still a lot saver than this micro cars and majority of cars
In ten years, the smart cars will rule the world, because there wouldn’t be left enough oil to fuel anything bigger than an Golf.
G-forces kill.
For it’s size the smart car maintains its shape well, but your brain will come out your nose.
Just don’t crash. simple.
Anyone notice the mercedes emblem flying by the camera at 1:35?
The point is it’s a dangerous choice when you’re driving it on the same road as the moron neighbor.
I think you are bashing the wrong way. They do tell in their description that you can have both size and fuel economy. And size does equal safety, they didn’t even used SUVs for the test. I think this was very objective. For all the fuel economy it may have, I woldn’t want to be in a smart in a crash. I’ve seen Toyota Yaris get totally wrecked in dumb accidents too. If companies are going small, they’ll need an overhaul on their structural design for small cars.
because this was not a safety test for the red car it was a safety test for the smart car for starters.
Gas savings for the smart car 5000 dollars. Hospital bill plus a lifetime wheelchair confinement priceless…..
its just a demo jesus relax. No the smart is not the dangerous choice. Its a choice that would most likely cause more bodily damage if it were involved in an accident. people can chose to drive what they wish.
it has never been the car it is always the driver that has endangered everyone on the road it doesn’t matter what you drive a fortwo or c300, if you’re a bad driver than you are a threat. all this video demonstrates is that a bigger more expensive and better engineered car with more safety features will do better in a head on collision with a smaller vehicle. Yes, it is the smart car that is the dangerous choice.
Why don’t they put on this a comparison of a Semi hitting the red car? Would that prove that we should all be driving 18 wheelers? if we get away from the mentality that we all have to be driving around two tons every time we go to the shopping mall we will all be safer. Why does my neighbor need two suv’s when she only drives down to the burger king a half a mile away, talking on her cell phone and texting her boyfriend? Yes, it’s the smart car that is the dangerous choice, yes.
Note the passenger compartment of the Smart car held up remarkably well..in fact the windshield didn’t even break on the yellow one — but there is little crumple zone to absorb the g-forces. When the Smart went flying backwards it could also fly into the path of another vehicle or tree. Amazing engineering on the Smart but I’ll take my big old tank-like car even if the mileage sucks.
smart car
This is why smart cars are deathtraps! Imagine if the red car had been a truck or anything heavier!
physics people! 3560lbs vs 1800lbs bad mismatch in an accident!
haha i love how the mercedes embelm flys @ 1:30
FORCE? why? do you wanna avoid accidents and injuries? I have the solution: DRIVE SAFE!
Good Job Bob, that’s the best way to put it!