| SUVs - Sport Utility Vehicles - are more popular than | | | | SUVs now have rollover air bags, designed specifically |
| ever. Ownership of SUVs increased dramatically by | | | | to protect passengers from injury during a rollover. A |
| 250% in the United States from 1995 to 2002 as | | | | sensing device will detect a rollover and trigger an |
| many people, especially families, were seduced into | | | | airbag to inflate, usually on the side of the vehicle, at |
| buying an SUV partly in the belief that bigger meant | | | | the same time tightening the seat belts. |
| safer. | | | | If you are still interested in an SUV, choose your |
| If you are thinking of buying an SUV, there is good | | | | model carefully. Cost, features, and gas mileage will all |
| news and bad news as far as safety is concerned. In | | | | influence your purchase, but safety should also play |
| general an SUV is more than twice as likely to roll | | | | an important part in deciding which make and model |
| over in an accident as a car. Children are especially at | | | | to buy. Many automotive web sites offer unbiased |
| risk, they are three times more likely to be injured in | | | | reviews of SUVs and their safety rating. |
| an SUV rollover accident than if they were in a car. | | | | Give some thought as to whether you really need an |
| And contrary to popular belief, the more weight that | | | | SUV. Statistics show that fewer than 5% of owners |
| an SUV carries, the higher the chance of an accident. | | | | will actually use their SUV off the road. A car or |
| Most SUVs are designed - and owners are | | | | minivan may suit your needs just as well, and will |
| encouraged - to carry extra weight in the form of | | | | usually cost less. |
| extra passengers and cargo, whether it is on the | | | | The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| road or off the road. One way to minimize the risk | | | | (NHTSA) published rankings for 2006 which show |
| of a rollover if you do drive an SUV is to drive with | | | | which SUVs are most and least likely to rollover in an |
| less weight. | | | | accident. The figures are based on the chances of a |
| In 2004 (the most recent year with data available) | | | | rollover in a single vehicle accident, they don't take in |
| rollover accidents killed just over 10,000 people in the | | | | to account multi-vehicle accidents. The figures also |
| United States. Rollovers are actually rare (less than | | | | don't take into account what causes the accident in |
| 3% of all car crashes) but they are responsible for | | | | the first place. |
| around 30% of all traffic related fatalities. However, | | | | The least likely models to rollover are the Chevrolet |
| rollovers are particularly serious types of accident as | | | | HHR, Ford Freestyle and Chrysler Pacifica. The |
| they often result in head injuries, or passengers being | | | | models most likely to rollover are the Nissan Xterra |
| thrown from vehicles. | | | | and the Chevrolet Avalanche along with several other |
| The good news is that SUVs are currently safer than | | | | models hovering just behind these two as far as the |
| ever, a trend that seems certain to continue. An | | | | rankings are concerned. |
| increasing number of SUVs are being made with | | | | Car manufacturers are understandably concerned |
| electronic stability control which dramatically | | | | with these rankings, the cost in financial terms and |
| decreases the chance of an accident. This may | | | | buyer confidence is enormous. There have been a |
| become a requirement in the next few years. | | | | spate of vehicle recalls over the last few years; one |
| Manufacturers are also making more so-called | | | | of the most far-reaching was by Ford in 2003, |
| car-based SUVs, vehicles that combine the | | | | recalling almost 1.7 million Explorers and Mercury |
| appearance of a car and an SUV. These usually ride | | | | Mountaineers. And Toyota recalled almost a million |
| closer to the ground than regular SUVs and are | | | | SUVs in 2005 because of a defect that could possibly |
| therefore significantly safer. And at least fifteen | | | | affect the ability to steer the vehicle. |
| major car manufacturers have agreed that by 2009, | | | | So before you buy your next SUV, do a little |
| all their SUVs would be built lower to the ground, | | | | research. It may just save your life if you are |
| saving an estimated 600 to 800 lives every year. | | | | involved in an accident. |
| Other safety features are being introduced. Newer | | | | |