| Author | Message | ||
     D. Chapman (1hank1) Senior Member Username: 1hank1 Post Number: 340 Registered: 02-2003 |
I just watched a show on SUV Side Impact crash test. SUV's included the Honda Element, Jeep Wrangler, Rav4, Outlander, Escape, Forester, Vitara, and of corse the Freelander. The Freelander, Element, and the Vitara all failed. The best was the Escape with side impact air bags. That is all... | ||
| Edward Bibb (Heirless) New Member Username: Heirless Post Number: 10 Registered: 04-2003 |
dude... you learn more on the HISTORY CHANNEL. If this becomes an issue, then please post a thread..... | ||
| Kirk Thibault (Kirkt) Member Username: Kirkt Post Number: 88 Registered: 11-2002 |
You are probably referring to IIHS (Insurance Institute for Higway Safety) testing of newer model small SUVs. See the following link for side impact crash ratings: http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/summary_smsuv_side.htm This is an actual summary of the crash data for the models tested: http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/grey_smsuv_side.htm It is also important to understand that the side impact testing performed by the IIHS simulates an "SUV" impact - that is, the moving deformable barrier that is impacting the side of the Freelander and other test vehicles is meant to simulate that of an SUV front end, not a passenger car front end.  While the vehicles listed by D above may have "failed" the IIHS tests, it is important ot realize that, lest panic be unleashed amongst Freelander owners, all vehicles sold in the US must pass NHTSA compliance testing (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, FMVSS for short). From NHTSA's web page FAQ: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Info.html#iq10 14. If NHTSA didn't test my vehicle, how do I know if it's safe? All vehicles sold in the United States must pass Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) including a compliance crash test which is a 30 mph frontal impact test and a 33.5 mph side impact test. When one examines the Freelander's IIHS crash protection ratings for the individual anatomical regions, the only region that received a "poor" rating was the torso. Typically this is the result of side-impact related intrusion of the vehicle structures, resulting in potentially injurious loading concentrated in the anatomical regions that sit next to the door (e.g., the torso). A side impact airbag system will not change the amount of crush or intrusion a vehicle experiences during a staged collision such as the IIHS testing, but a side impact airbag system will help attenuate the potentially injurious loading the intrusion generates. Thus, it just turns out that some vehicles respond better than others, especially the ones with side impact airbag systems in side impacts. See, for example, the torso protection rating for the Ford Escape with and without side airbags. kirk | ||
| Mark Albrecht (Markalbrecht) Member Username: Markalbrecht Post Number: 89 Registered: 11-2002 |
Kirk makes good points. Also keep in mind that if your back seat passengers are children, side and curtain air bags may dangerous for them and may need to be deactivated (which would effect the vehicle's crash test rating). http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/airbags/airbags03/page9.html | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 439 Registered: 08-2002 |
Interesting as well was that if the airbags are NOT standard, then they were not tested with them. Ford paid for the additional test of the escape and you can see the difference. I think that this is a good test. It is more than what the feds have done and will likely improve the safety of vehicles over the next few years. After seeing this it is pretty clear that the side impact airbags help a lot. |
