Are SUVs and Crossovers as safe as everyone says?
As written for The Safe Driver.
One of the reasons SUVs and crossovers have become the most popular personal vehicles on the roads is that they look and feel safer than your typical sedan. The elevation from the road, the bigger frame and weight, and the advanced safety technology that comes with today’s automobiles combine to create an experience that gives peace of mind on today’s roads.
But are SUVs and crossovers really as safe as the marketing makes them seem? As with any vehicle, they come with their pros and cons. This is everything you need to know about safely driving SUVs and crossovers in Canada, come rain, shine, snow, or sleet.
#1 Driving an SUV in the Winter
Winter driving is top of mind for Canadian drivers looking for a new vehicle. Canada has a tough climate, and not all vehicles were designed with 20 centimetres of snow or freezing rain in mind.
SUVs can slip and slide as much as any vehicle when roads are icy and slick. The size of your vehicle can give you a false sense of safety when you should still follow all the best practices of safe winter driving.
When you’re driving in winter, make sure you put on winter tires, stay alert to other vehicles on the road, keep more space between you and other drivers in bad conditions, and be very cautious when turning. The size of an SUV does make it more prone to turning over in poor road conditions. One last tip: refuel often so that you’re driving with extra weight, as it can help create traction.
The best SUV for winter driving in Canada is one that comes with AWD and snow-rated tires. When it comes to creature comforts, don’t forget the heated seats and steering wheel.
#2 Are SUVs Safer in Accidents?
When a collision does happen, the evidence shows that SUVs really are safer to be in. Front crashes are among the most deadly types of collisions, and SUVs are safer than cars in front crashes.
According to research by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, vehicle type was more important than crash-test rating when it came to the safety of the vehicle’s occupant. The driver of the larger vehicle was more likely to get out unharmed.
Larger vehicles can be more prone to rollovers due to the higher center of gravity. However, electronic stability control (ESC) can help prevent them, and the technology has been standard since 2012, so it’s mostly a concern in older used vehicles. Rollovers are also significantly less dangerous to occupants who are wearing their seatbelts.
#3 Drive Carefully in School Zones and at Pedestrian Crossings
One of the issues with SUVs is that, while they make the occupants much safer, they can be more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists around them. The height affects the way the vehicle impacts a person, hitting them in a more vulnerable area and making it more likely that they go under the vehicle than over.
That said, today’s SUVs also come with more technology, such as collision detection. Drive carefully through school zone sand intersections, and you can be the safest driver on the road
Well defined and said.