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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:18,609 Points:1,608,545 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 5:00:01 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:32,980 Points:2,344,535 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 12:13:50 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:18,609 Points:1,608,545 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 9:03:08 PM 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:3,169 Points:678,985 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 9:21:38 AM Ignore gobux10 Report Abuse Just physics
teenitup Champion Author Houston Posts:1,636 Points:248,210 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 7:04:40 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:1,827 Points:765,145 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2013 4:15:36 AM Ignore FNB1967 Report Abuse Old
JuicyQ69 All-Star Author San Bernardino Posts:643 Points:1,139,640 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 10:55:37 PM Ignore JuicyQ69 Report Abuse I fault rising gas prices.
Nofries Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,703 Points:699,085 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 10:12:28 PM 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:37,029 Points:1,463,770 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:47:08 PM 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:3,015 Points:1,311,170 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:25:59 PM 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:6,476 Points:2,101,040 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:19:51 PM Ignore Zonk Report Abuse Smaller, lighter, etc. cars are not in my future plans.
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,463 Points:661,975 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:13:53 PM 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:1,713 Points:387,000 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:09:11 PM 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:3,000 Points:660,890 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:08:35 PM Ignore Harry813 Report Abuse Why size matters?
davenles Champion Author Texas Posts:3,191 Points:716,935 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:06:49 PM 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:978 Points:397,080 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:03:46 PM Ignore cheaper0ON Report Abuse Hmmm...
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,687 Points:537,070 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:03:45 PM 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:3,795 Points:412,565 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:03:43 PM 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:3,222 Points:816,820 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 9:03:41 PM Ignore mcmonsta Report Abuse explorer vs smart car....is this so smart?
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,135 Points:1,881,720 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:59:34 PM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse You see more roll overs.
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,553 Points:1,918,850 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:57:43 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 8:56:26 PM Ignore Steve6921 Report Abuse Then drive a bigger car and pay more for gas
boatmen Champion Author New York Posts:3,080 Points:621,830 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:56:23 PM Ignore boatmen Report Abuse crapola
TA33 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:1,487 Points:320,290 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:54:50 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:11,083 Points:1,621,355 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:51:43 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:3,711 Points:599,390 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:49:09 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:10,026 Points:1,854,745 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:48:12 PM Ignore ricebike Report Abuse i dunno...
wild3bill Champion Author New York Posts:2,546 Points:1,686,615 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:48:11 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:1,810 Points:641,075 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:45:58 PM Ignore bston Report Abuse Yes, there's a trade-off when it comes to weight verses mpgs.
skybiker Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,287 Points:1,558,440 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:45:47 PM Ignore skybiker Report Abuse Law of unintended consequences...
GigHarborHound Champion Author Tacoma Posts:2,527 Points:486,540 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:44:31 PM Ignore GigHarborHound Report Abuse DUHHHHH!!!
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:412,565 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:43:26 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 8:41:45 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:3,795 Points:412,565 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:40:22 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:7,050 Points:1,358,610 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:39:58 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse Size matters to crash dummies.
UpSol7 Champion Author Augusta Posts:1,648 Points:757,900 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:38:48 PM Ignore UpSol7 Report Abuse Yeah cause we're all better off if everyone drives an H3
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:412,565 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:38:36 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:5,309 Points:864,355 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:37:24 PM Ignore mackconsult Report Abuse I like my 8000 lb sprinter that gets 30 MPG.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:412,565 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:37:14 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:1,531,150 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:34:05 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:5,984 Points:1,111,375 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:34:02 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse Just another reason to keep drving the 1-ton 4x4 crew cab dully...
paulydel Champion Author Delaware Posts:8,779 Points:847,450 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:33:51 PM Ignore paulydel Report Abuse Cars don't have a weight problem because its politics thats the problem.
sickhp Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,369 Points:515,930 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:32:49 PM Ignore sickhp Report Abuse Keeping my light Vette it is safe.))
s6sputnik Champion Author Austin Posts:6,219 Points:1,307,195 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:30:13 PM Ignore s6sputnik Report Abuse That stinks
thomas41546 Champion Author Tennessee Posts:3,757 Points:2,256,715 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:30:10 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:5,730 Points:816,030 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:29:29 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:998 Points:212,055 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:26:44 PM Ignore CCLighthouse Report Abuse I was kind of liking those little SmartforTwo cars! : )
JENNYHK Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,636 Points:712,570 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:26:10 PM Ignore JENNYHK Report Abuse Must think we are all soft.
veemotors All-Star Author Alberta Posts:705 Points:66,095 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:24:30 PM Ignore veemotors Report Abuse old news
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,014 Points:1,485,905 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 9, 2013 8:23:22 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Run a Hummer into a stone wall and see how happy the driver feels