Summary:
Many assume that bigger vehicles are always safer, but research shows there’s a limit. While a heavier vehicle provides more protection, adding even more weight beyond a certain point doesn’t improve safety for its occupants. However, it does increase the danger to other drivers on the road.
The Safety Ceiling of Vehicle Weight
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), vehicles under the fleet average weight of 1,814 kg (4,000 lbs) see significant safety gains when increasing their weight by 227 kg (500 lbs). However, once a vehicle exceeds the fleet average, adding more weight does little to improve occupant safety. At the same time, it raises the risk for others in smaller vehicles.
Crash Compatibility and Structural Changes
Historically, SUVs and pickup trucks posed a greater risk to smaller vehicles due to poor crash compatibility. Before 2009, their force-absorbing structures often didn’t align with those of cars, causing them to ride over smaller vehicles rather than absorbing impact properly. Since then, manufacturers have improved vehicle structures and added side airbags, significantly reducing the risk disparity.
From 2011-2016, car occupants were 90% more likely to die in crashes with SUVs over 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs) than in crashes with other cars. By 2017-2022, this number dropped to 20% due to improved design. Similarly, pickup trucks were 2.5 times more likely to cause fatalities in the earlier period but only twice as likely in the later study.
Does a Heavier Vehicle Still Provide an Advantage?
As safety features like airbags and crash structures improve, the relative benefits of larger vehicles decrease. The IIHS concludes that choosing an extra-heavy vehicle doesn’t significantly improve safety but does make crashes more dangerous for others.
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