| The case could be argued that for years, auto | | | | gravity, discussed above, which greatly increases its |
| makers have been creating products that they knew | | | | chances of rolling over on uneven surfaces. |
| were dangerous, simply because people liked the | | | | Intuitively, you might think because of their larger |
| way they looked. Specifically, I'm referring to sport | | | | wheels and bigger size, SUVs might actually be safer |
| utility vehicles. These vehicles tend to roll over in the | | | | when losing control and going off the road, but it just |
| right circumstances, causing great damage and injury | | | | doesn't work that way. |
| to passengers. Research has shown that these | | | | There is no good reason for the extra height of |
| vehicles can be made much safer and less prone to | | | | many sport utility vehicles. It's simple a fashion |
| tipping by only making slight changes to their design, | | | | statement. Today, the auto industry is backing away |
| which is what the manufacturers are beginning to do. | | | | from designing vehicles that are dangerous just to |
| A design change is considered successful if it results | | | | make them aesthetically pleasing. |
| in a reduction in fatalities by 5 - 10%. A recent | | | | The fact that SUVs have become the de-facto |
| initiative to lower SUVs slightly and install hollow | | | | family vehicle also contributes to the poor safety |
| impact-absorbing bars below the bumpers is being | | | | record. In concept, an SUV is a vehicle that can carry |
| credited for a nearly 50% decline in injuries resulting | | | | a heavy load of people and equipment while |
| from side impact or head-on collisions. A 50% | | | | traversing a rocky terrain. However, this type of |
| improvement is considered a phenomenal success. | | | | vehicle is meant to be equipped with roll bars. Since |
| In 2003, an agreement was made by 15 major | | | | SUVs are now primarily family vehicles, there are |
| automakers that by 2009, light trucks and SUVs | | | | usually no roll bars. So what you end up with is a |
| would be built lower or use an energy-absorbing | | | | vehicle with narrow width, heavy weight and high |
| beam. It was also agreed that the vehicles would all | | | | center of gravity, but no roll bars to protect the |
| feature side air bags. That's great for those | | | | passengers - a very bad combination. |
| purchasing new vehicles in 2009 and beyond, but | | | | One thing to look for in an SUV is a high rollover |
| what about consumers who already own an older | | | | resistance rating, which is an estimate of a vehicle's |
| SUV? | | | | risk of rollover. However, even SUVs with top-rated |
| To this point, there is no plan in place to make older | | | | rollover resistance have a greater chance of flipping |
| SUVs safer. Today, the roads are still filled with older | | | | than other types of vehicles. |
| SUVs that are not as safe as those manufactured | | | | If you drive an SUV, you need to drive with extra |
| according to the newest safety guidelines. If you | | | | caution. If your SUV is more than a few years old |
| own such a vehicle, you would do yourself a favor | | | | and you have the financial capability, upgrade to a |
| by trading it in on a newer and safer SUV. | | | | newer model. Finally, when shopping for a new SUV, |
| Most rollovers occur when the SUV is no longer on | | | | look for one that sits lower to the ground and that |
| the road. This relates to the vehicles' high center of | | | | has a high rollover resistance rating. |