When shopping for a new car, many people are looking towards fuel-efficient cars to help save money on gas and help save the environment. The question looms, by purchasing a fuel-efficient car, normally a smaller model vehicle, are you putting yourself at risk in the event of an accident?
Overall, small, lightweight cars - the type that get the best gas mileage, are generally less safe that large, heavy ones. The most important aspects to a car's safety and its ability to keep you safe in the event of an accident are its safety equipment, weight and resistance to rollover. While small cars pass the roll over test easily - they are low to the ground and thus unlikely to roll, they lack weight and are less likely to have advanced safety features like stability control or full side curtain airbags.
How to determine the safety rating of your car
When researching the safety of your small car the first place you should look is the government agency responsible for conducting crash and safety tests on cars; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. The NHTSA uses a 5-star ranking program that rates the safety of cars from 1-star (not safe) to 5-stars (super safe) by doing a variety of tests on cars that show them what happens to the car when it is in an accident.
The NHTSA conducts the major tests; front-end collision, rollover resistance, and a side crash with a moving target. A star rating is applied to the car based upon how it performs. By knowing this rating you can know what will happen to your car if it is in this type of common accident.
Next, check out Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS, collects data on various car collisions in the United States and reports back to Insurance companies about the potential risks of different types of vehicles. This institute also conducts their own safety tests, but unlike the NHTSA, these tests determine how a car will hold up in an accident with another vehicle (NHTSA's tests are done with a large blunt surface, usually a wall). All of the information gathered by the IIHS can help drivers determine whether a smaller car is statistically safer on the road filled with SUV sized cars.
Finally, check with the manufacturer of any small car you are interested in. Safety isn't always determined by how well a car performs in a crash test; it can also be determined by what equipment is provided by automotive companies to make the driving experience safer. Car manufacturers have been inventing and adding new safety equipment to both small and large cars. These type of safety features can be used as a major determining factor for car safety because it reduces the likelihood of a car being involved in an accident while on the road.
Making a decision about your small car
Once you have complied all the safety information you can find on a smaller vehicle you might purchase you have to determine whether the car stacks up safety wise. In addition to any manufacturer-installed safety features, always check to see if you can add more. At the top of your list of added safety features should be stability control and side-impact airbags. These things are often missing from small cars and can make a major difference in safety; they are also fairly common and not particularly expensive. It is also advisable to buy a car that can easily accelerate from zero to 60 in under 11 or 12 seconds, so you can manage tricky merging situations in high traffic areas.
Always check to see if you can add more safety features on top of the standard manufacturer installed ones. At the top of your list of additions should be stability control and side-impact airbags - these are important and are often missing from small cars. These safety features can make a major difference in the event of a wreck and they are also fairly common and not particularly expensive. Experts also say that a car that can easily accelerate from zero to 60 in under 11 or 12 seconds is a safety must, this way you can manage tricky merging situations in high traffic areas, common here in Texas.
No matter what size your car is all experts agree that how you drive is the most important safety factor. On Texas highways, crowded with big trucks and SUV's, a small car can seem like a dangerous alternative and indeed sometimes it is. If you are in the market for a new car and are looking to save money and considering a small fuel-efficient car, do all the research and find the safest models and add as many safety features as you can.
Overall, small, lightweight cars - the type that get the best gas mileage, are generally less safe that large, heavy ones. The most important aspects to a car's safety and its ability to keep you safe in the event of an accident are its safety equipment, weight and resistance to rollover. While small cars pass the roll over test easily - they are low to the ground and thus unlikely to roll, they lack weight and are less likely to have advanced safety features like stability control or full side curtain airbags.
How to determine the safety rating of your car
When researching the safety of your small car the first place you should look is the government agency responsible for conducting crash and safety tests on cars; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. The NHTSA uses a 5-star ranking program that rates the safety of cars from 1-star (not safe) to 5-stars (super safe) by doing a variety of tests on cars that show them what happens to the car when it is in an accident.
The NHTSA conducts the major tests; front-end collision, rollover resistance, and a side crash with a moving target. A star rating is applied to the car based upon how it performs. By knowing this rating you can know what will happen to your car if it is in this type of common accident.
Next, check out Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS, collects data on various car collisions in the United States and reports back to Insurance companies about the potential risks of different types of vehicles. This institute also conducts their own safety tests, but unlike the NHTSA, these tests determine how a car will hold up in an accident with another vehicle (NHTSA's tests are done with a large blunt surface, usually a wall). All of the information gathered by the IIHS can help drivers determine whether a smaller car is statistically safer on the road filled with SUV sized cars.
Finally, check with the manufacturer of any small car you are interested in. Safety isn't always determined by how well a car performs in a crash test; it can also be determined by what equipment is provided by automotive companies to make the driving experience safer. Car manufacturers have been inventing and adding new safety equipment to both small and large cars. These type of safety features can be used as a major determining factor for car safety because it reduces the likelihood of a car being involved in an accident while on the road.
Making a decision about your small car
Once you have complied all the safety information you can find on a smaller vehicle you might purchase you have to determine whether the car stacks up safety wise. In addition to any manufacturer-installed safety features, always check to see if you can add more. At the top of your list of added safety features should be stability control and side-impact airbags. These things are often missing from small cars and can make a major difference in safety; they are also fairly common and not particularly expensive. It is also advisable to buy a car that can easily accelerate from zero to 60 in under 11 or 12 seconds, so you can manage tricky merging situations in high traffic areas.
Always check to see if you can add more safety features on top of the standard manufacturer installed ones. At the top of your list of additions should be stability control and side-impact airbags - these are important and are often missing from small cars. These safety features can make a major difference in the event of a wreck and they are also fairly common and not particularly expensive. Experts also say that a car that can easily accelerate from zero to 60 in under 11 or 12 seconds is a safety must, this way you can manage tricky merging situations in high traffic areas, common here in Texas.
No matter what size your car is all experts agree that how you drive is the most important safety factor. On Texas highways, crowded with big trucks and SUV's, a small car can seem like a dangerous alternative and indeed sometimes it is. If you are in the market for a new car and are looking to save money and considering a small fuel-efficient car, do all the research and find the safest models and add as many safety features as you can.
About the Author:
About the Author: This article was written by Al Boenker Insurance of Texas. We are car insurance experts specializing in all auto insurance in Texas. If you need insurance for a small car, consider comparing rates by filling out our Texas auto insurance online quote. Our educated and friendly staff can help you choose the right policy with the right safety features for you.
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