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Our Cars' Weight Problem - How government is making our cars lighter, and more dangerous

National Review Online -- Bigger and heavier is simply better when it comes to car crashes, all other things being equal.

We do not have to speculate about the safety ramifications of being in a smaller vehicle; the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ran a rather expensive series of tests in which it pitted a smaller vehicle against the next size larger vehicle from the same manufacturer. Specifically, they ran a Honda Fit into a Honda Accord, a Toyota Yaris into a Toyota Camry, and a Mercedes C Class into a Smart Fortwo (owned by Mercedes).

In 40 mph offset-collision tests, the small cars were basically obliterated by their larger siblings. Here are the tests. Make sure to watch what happens to the crash dummy in the smaller vehicle.

See why size matters?

The sad truth is that these well-intentioned

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Submitted Jan 09, 2013 By: Nofries

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,580 Points:1,605,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 8:00:01 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse losing mass on the inside by variable content would be much better. Wouldn't need the oversized mini-tanks.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:32,915 Points:2,341,510 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 3:13:50 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse How government is making our cars lighter and more dangerous! A less mass object in motion against a higher mass object in motion, the heavier object wins. Simple physics at work here! Design vehicles to absorb front/rear/side impacts, maintain the passenger compartment and protect the driver and passengers. Defensive driving and vehicle sensors, cameras, radars and gps connected to a computer to help get from one place to another. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, vehicle manufactures Produce and the population ‘Drives’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII! - The Day After......
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,580 Points:1,605,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:03:08 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse no one speaks of the aggressive but careless (often yacking or texting) drivers causing accidents in the first place.
gobux10 Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,154 Points:675,960 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:21:38 PM Ignore gobux10 Report Abuse Just physics
teenitup Champion Author Houston Posts:1,590 Points:245,935 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 10:04:40 AM Ignore teenitup Report Abuse I find it interesting and sad that the defenders of small cars are so vigorous in the face of so many deaths.
FNB1967 Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,812 Points:762,120 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 7:15:36 AM Ignore FNB1967 Report Abuse Old
JuicyQ69 All-Star Author San Bernardino Posts:634 Points:1,136,735 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 1:55:37 AM Ignore JuicyQ69 Report Abuse I fault rising gas prices.
Nofries Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,699 Points:698,805 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 1:12:28 AM Ignore Nofries Report Abuse The article points out that fatalities have remained fairly constant... below copied from page 2 of the article... The sad truth is that there is only so much magic that you can perform on the safety front by installing air bags and using high-tech materials like carbon fiber and even seat belts that begin to cinch you tighter as they anticipate the crash. The sad truth is that these well-intentioned and well-designed cars can’t defy physics. There are approximately 42,000 motoring fatalities each year in the United States. That is a large number, and it has remained stubbornly at that level. Why, with all the technological innovations that have occurred in so many key areas, such as electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, and air bags, have we not reduced those numbers significantly? The major reason, I believe, is the smaller vehicles our government has been pushing in order to support the environmental agenda.
BennoBlue Champion Author Virginia Posts:36,926 Points:1,460,745 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:47:08 AM Ignore BennoBlue Report Abuse This oh-so-scary article ignores the statistics of vehicle fatalities decreasing for years now, particularly recently. Today's vehicles are built with more and better safety features, so even in a small car, walking away from an accident is more likely. And, as an earlier poster pointed out, it's funny they start with a picture of a Smart car, considering the TV commercial showing an SUV sitting on a Smart Fortwo, causing no damage!
NemoIL Champion Author Illinois Posts:3,005 Points:1,309,220 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:25:59 AM Ignore NemoIL Report Abuse We can thank all the psychotic greens for cramming these smaller, lightweight vehicles down our throats. They have blood on their hands.
Zonk Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,461 Points:2,098,015 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:19:51 AM Ignore Zonk Report Abuse Smaller, lighter, etc. cars are not in my future plans.
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,448 Points:658,950 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:13:53 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Try driving a Smart car into a Mack truck. Then call for a shovel, a mop and a bucket.
boatfloyd Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,698 Points:383,975 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:09:11 AM Ignore boatfloyd Report Abuse I own a Honda Fit, but I don't plan on running into a Honda Accord.
Harry813 Champion Author Iowa Posts:2,980 Points:657,640 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:08:35 AM Ignore Harry813 Report Abuse Why size matters?
davenles Champion Author Texas Posts:3,176 Points:714,660 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:06:49 AM Ignore davenles Report Abuse Top fuel dragsters are small and relatively light weight, but the cockpit (and driver) can withstand one heck of a crash. It's all about how it's built and what materials are used.
cheaper0ON All-Star Author Ontario Posts:963 Points:394,055 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:03:46 AM Ignore cheaper0ON Report Abuse Hmmm...
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,672 Points:534,045 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:03:45 AM Ignore PrinceLH Report Abuse and people don't even have to look in their sideview mirrors or learn to park anymore.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:409,865 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:03:43 AM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Forget the physics course and take an engineering course, @TA33. Modern design and materials have done much to increase the survivability of today's vehicles. Much like the old saying about the fall not killing you, it's the sudden stop at the end, modern vehicles do a much better job of decelerating the driver and passengers in an impact with much less injury.
mcmonsta Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,209 Points:813,960 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:03:41 AM Ignore mcmonsta Report Abuse explorer vs smart car....is this so smart?
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,125 Points:1,879,670 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:59:34 PM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse You see more roll overs.
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,537 Points:1,916,505 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:57:43 PM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse I don't know that this is true!
Steve6921 Sophomore Author New Hampshire Posts:104 Points:156,980 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:56:26 PM Ignore Steve6921 Report Abuse Then drive a bigger car and pay more for gas
boatmen Champion Author New York Posts:3,060 Points:619,330 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:56:23 PM Ignore boatmen Report Abuse crapola
TA33 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:1,482 Points:318,465 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:54:50 PM Ignore TA33 Report Abuse Not everyone passed Physics in school... A larger Mass + Velocity will crush a smaller Mass moving at a lesser velocity.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,066 Points:1,618,325 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:51:43 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Usual garbage opinion piece from the National Review. Note the request for Donations below the item! No real news service requests Donations.
carloco75 Champion Author Richmond Posts:3,699 Points:596,465 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:49:09 PM Ignore carloco75 Report Abuse I had no idea government was in the business of ANY actual auto manufacturing...
ricebike Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,015 Points:1,852,695 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:48:12 PM Ignore ricebike Report Abuse i dunno...
wild3bill Champion Author New York Posts:2,546 Points:1,685,265 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:48:11 PM Ignore wild3bill Report Abuse Where all the cars are of similar size you reduce the problem of a BIG Fat SUV demolishing a VW , a Smart od a Mini!
bston Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,800 Points:638,275 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:45:58 PM Ignore bston Report Abuse Yes, there's a trade-off when it comes to weight verses mpgs.
skybiker Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,272 Points:1,555,415 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:45:47 PM Ignore skybiker Report Abuse Law of unintended consequences...
GigHarborHound Champion Author Tacoma Posts:2,512 Points:483,515 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:44:31 PM Ignore GigHarborHound Report Abuse DUHHHHH!!!
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:409,865 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:43:26 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Ask former New Jersey governor Jon Corzine how he feels about large government vehicles, @wulf2000. His driver was going 80mph in the state owned Chevy Suburban when it went off the highway.
melvindale Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,438 Points:351,230 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:41:45 PM Ignore melvindale Report Abuse Just 1 size apart. What about a mini car being hit by a large car? A truck? A semi?
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:409,865 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:40:22 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse I'm searching for some relevance in your comment, @Dragnet. Still haven't found any.
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:7,044 Points:1,356,035 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:39:58 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse Size matters to crash dummies.
UpSol7 Champion Author Augusta Posts:1,628 Points:754,650 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:38:48 PM Ignore UpSol7 Report Abuse Yeah cause we're all better off if everyone drives an H3
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:409,865 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:38:36 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse How about telling us about pulling a Ford Explorer out of a ditch after it's rolled over three or four times, @OGW?
mackconsult Champion Author Portland Posts:5,304 Points:864,030 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:37:24 PM Ignore mackconsult Report Abuse I like my 8000 lb sprinter that gets 30 MPG.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:409,865 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:37:14 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse What a load of male bovine excrement! By the author's logic, we should all then drive super-sized behemoths in the name of safety. The problem is that we as humans never feel safe enough so of course we'll just buy ever larger vehicles, starting an arms race of rolling armored personnel carriers. The truth however is that as cars have gotten smaller, they've also gotten safer. Features like anti-lock brakes and stability control make it much less likely you'll get into a crash. And even if you do crash, crumple zones in the car's design and ever more airbags make it much more likely you'll walk away from a crash that would have killed you, if you were driving a car even 10 years old. Don't believe the false claim that a heavier car is inherently more safe.
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,324 Points:1,529,650 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:34:05 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse Driving a wrecker for forty years now and I would not let a close family member near a small car, we call them coffins on wheels! We did 3 crashes involving the stupid car wait, Mercedes call it the Smart Car or Smart Fortwo which is for stupid people and all occupants in each Smart car were killed. Their safety claims are bullshit!
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,976 Points:1,108,585 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:34:02 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse Just another reason to keep drving the 1-ton 4x4 crew cab dully...
paulydel Champion Author Delaware Posts:8,764 Points:845,925 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:33:51 PM Ignore paulydel Report Abuse Cars don't have a weight problem because its politics thats the problem.
sickhp Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,354 Points:512,905 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:32:49 PM Ignore sickhp Report Abuse Keeping my light Vette it is safe.))
s6sputnik Champion Author Austin Posts:6,209 Points:1,304,395 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:30:13 PM Ignore s6sputnik Report Abuse That stinks
thomas41546 Champion Author Tennessee Posts:3,741 Points:2,253,690 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:30:10 PM Ignore thomas41546 Report Abuse If the CUBE was the only car on the market, I believe I would elect to walk.
rbrk02 Champion Author Rhode Island Posts:5,719 Points:813,230 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:29:29 PM Ignore rbrk02 Report Abuse PnnyPnchr wrote "If I am going to be in a head-on collision with an 18-wheeler I don't think it matters much if I'm in a Yaris (which I drive) or an F-150." The problem here is that most collisions do not involve 18 wheelers but more moderate size vehicles such as the F150 mentioned. If I am going to be in an accident with an F150 or other similar size (or smaller) vehicle, I would rather be behind the wheel of something significant in size such as my Explorer. I certainly would not want to be driving something the size of a Yaris as I do not like my chances as much. Bottom line is that smaller cars are indeed less safe and there is a large disparity in both size and weight, all adding up to reduced safety.
CCLighthouse All-Star Author Hartford Posts:983 Points:209,030 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:26:44 PM Ignore CCLighthouse Report Abuse I was kind of liking those little SmartforTwo cars! : )
JENNYHK Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,621 Points:709,545 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:26:10 PM Ignore JENNYHK Report Abuse Must think we are all soft.
veemotors All-Star Author Alberta Posts:692 Points:65,545 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:24:30 PM Ignore veemotors Report Abuse old news
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:9,970 Points:1,482,880 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 11:23:22 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Run a Hummer into a stone wall and see how happy the driver feels