Improved Vehicle Safety Makes Choosing a Car Easier

When the time comes to pick out a car, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. You want a model with great gas mileage, plenty of features, and a warranty that will get you through the first couple of years following your purchase. The foremost consideration, however, is safety. You’ve got precious cargo in your vehicle every time you get behind the wheel, whether you’re driving your family or protecting your own life, and you want to know that everyone in your vehicle will be safe. That’s why a study giving driver casualty rates by make and model is such a crucial tool in deciding which car is the safest choice for you and your family.

Nine Of The Safest Car Models:

When it comes to cars that can take a beating, bigger is still better. Of the nine car models with zero traffic fatalities during the period examined by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), six were mid-size vehicles and three were minivans or SUVs. The study estimates that approximately 7,700 driver casualties in the United States were avoided in 2012 alone due to the safety improvements made to these and other vehicles on the market.

Safest Mid-sized Vehicles

1. Audi A4
2. Kia Sorento
3. Lexus RX 350
4. Subaru Legacy
5. Toyota Highlander
6. Volvo XC90

Safest Larger Vehicles

1. Honda Odyssey
2. Toyota Sequoia
3. Mercedes-Benz GL

Just eight years ago, according to the IIHS, there were no passenger vehicles with zero driver casualties. This significant improvement over that time period makes it well worth the effort to look for a vehicle from the list, especially for a young driver who might not have the experience necessary to avoid an accident. The International Business Times hypothesizes that one of the reasons behind the change, particularly in SUVs, is the prevalence of electronic stability control, a technological advancement that helps prevent overcompensation due to travel at excessive speeds. This is, however, only one piece of the technology working to keep drivers safer. Advancements in recent years will provide even greater safety for newer models of these vehicles.

Ten of the Unsafest Car Models in America

On the flip side of the coin that is vehicle safety, you’ll find the cars with the lowest safety ratings and the highest level of driver deaths in America. IIHS spokesman Russ Rader attributes these rates not to cost, though many of the vehicles on the list were low-cost options, but due to the fact that small, light vehicles are less sturdy in the event of an accident. “It’s Packaging 101,” Monsey, NY-based attorney Zev Goldstein quotes Rader. “If the occupant compartment stays intact, the seat belts and air bags can do their jobs.”

Ten Cars with High Rates Of Fatal Accidents:

1. Kia Rio four-door
2. Nissan Versa
3. Hyundai Accent four-door
4. Chevrolet Aveo
5. Hyundai Accent two-door
6. Chevrolet Camaro
7. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew
8. Honda Civic two-door
9. Nissan Versa hatchback
10. Ford Focus

While cost is often a factor in choosing a car, it’s important to note that the cost of life is impossible to quantify. Purchasing a safer, better-constructed vehicle might be the difference between a fatal accident and one where everyone walks away. If you’re looking for a new vehicle, attention to the lists above might be the best place to start.

This article was submitted by Fay Wein from The Law Office of Zev Goldstein PLLC.