According to a report from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, buying a minicar may provide better fuel economy, but it also puts occupants in greater danger. The institute slammed a Smart ForTwo, a Toyota Yaris, and a Honda Fit head-on into midsize sedans, which is cool. All of the minicars fared poorly, which is not so cool. Furthermore, the midsizers all fared well or acceptably.
This is bad news for fans of tiny, fuel-sipping cars, as well as those who buy them for the sake of the environment or fuel economy.
Sadly, it makes sense. Having less mass in an impact means greater change in velocity. Also, having less car in front of the driver means less energy absorption by the automobile itself. It raises the question, what are we willing to sacrifice for fuel economy? Is there a way to provide safety without making cars less efficient?
According to the institute that conducted the tests, one solution would be to slash the speed limit and reduce horsepower. This sort of regulation would also limit our ability to have fun. Another solution would be to make larger lightweight cars with energy-absorbing crush zones, but this doesn’t appease consumers who prefer the benefits of a smaller vehicle. We can hope, for now, that other measures can reduce the destructive power other vehicles hold over small cars.
Follow the link below for the article from The New York Times, which also includes a video of the Smart ForTwo taking on a Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
