Crash Course

Flipping through my pile of car magazines I came across a very interesting article written by Csaba Csere, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver, and my favorite automotive journalist of all time.

In his column he has some pretty interesting insights concerning automotive safety. "What is the safest car?" he asked automotive experts, and they usually responded by saying, "Tell me the kind of crash you will have, and I’ll tell you the safest vehicle."

For example, if a Ford Expedition were to collide with a Kia Pride, it is fairly obvious that the large SUV has the edge in safety, but if one were to crash head-on into a concrete wall, then the occupants would probably be better off in a Mercedes sedan that has a generous and carefully designed crash space, airbags, and seatbelt pretensioners to minimize the impact felt by the passengers.

On a more realistic note, crash expectations do not just involve a head-on frontal collision but a more complex combination of glancing side hits and possible rollovers, which can happen in the event that the car leaves the road after losing control. In this case, it is best that the car doesn’t leave the road in the first place, and this can be achieved in a high-end sports car (like a Porsche, for example), which has very high cornering and brake limits. But then again, it is still a very fast car. I don’t necessarily agree but many people out there equate speed with danger.

A heavy SUV would probably keep the speed down, and in a vehicle to vehicle collision I would place my bet on the bigger car. But according to Csere, SUVs only have modest grip compared to the smaller cars, and if they do exceed the cornering limits, he says that these tall machines are more willing than ordinary cars to flip over. "The fact is, no single vehicle can provide maximum safety in all circumstances," he declares.

Although we are in the Philippines, the following data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US is worth mentioning since the data reveals which accidents are most common.

Of all fatal crashes for example, 68 percent involved vehicles going in a straight line. Two-thirds of these crashes resulted in frontal impact, and about 62 percent involved hitting another vehicle. Csere also mentions that these statistics reveal another truth. About 38 percent of fatal accidents involve only a single vehicle. There is no second driver to blame, and in most accidents involving two vehicles, one of the two made a mistake. Computing these numbers also reveal another interesting fact — a driver involved in a fatal accident is at fault nearly 70 percent of the time.

By the way, the kicker of Csere’s article goes, "The safest car is the one well driven." I couldn’t agree more. Regardless of the various types of vehicles that are in the market and their varying abilities to keep passengers alive in the event of a car accident, what really makes the difference in safety are the people behind the wheel.

We all know basic rules when driving —such as never taking the wheel when under the influence of alcohol. Well, then remember and observe these commonsensical tips! Keep them in mind the next time you hit the road.

But then again, let’s not overlook the fact that this is the Philippines. No matter how careful you are, there is bound to be some idiot sharing that road with you.

So, look out!

Come to think of it, the LTO should have an IQ test added to requirements for obtaining a driver’s license. Who knows? The traffic situation might improve and the chances of accidents caused by stupidity may decrease dramatically. But that my fellow motorists, is a topic for a different article altogether. Happy Motoring!