View Full Version : Is a car or a truck safer?
nicholasharnois
May 11, 2011, 12:38 PM
What is safer a truck or a car
smoothy
May 11, 2011, 01:01 PM
To do what? Negotiate traffic in Saigon or drive through a mine field during active combat?
nicholasharnois
May 12, 2011, 06:04 AM
Just which is safer to drive with on road like if you get hit which is safer
smoothy
May 12, 2011, 06:20 AM
Usually the car believe it or not (crumble zones, side impact air bags etc.. )... BUT there is a huge difference depending on WHICH car and which truck you compare against.
And why its important to mention specifics... there really isn't a universal answer that applies in all situations.
CaptainRich
May 12, 2011, 09:53 AM
That depends on what truck you select and/or what car you select.
Generally speaking, most trucks would be the "safer" option due to their larger size and frame construction.
Have you researched this up on any consumer advocate sites?
Or with the NHTSA website? Go to Home | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (http://www.nhtsa.gov/) for the latest independent info.
nicholasharnois
May 12, 2011, 01:03 PM
Thank you for all your help
Nic
samuelspeak
May 13, 2011, 12:35 AM
It basically depends on the make and model. But I guess trucks are usually safer. And so are SUVs.
smoothy
May 13, 2011, 04:40 AM
Don't assume a strong frame or a more rigid vehicle makes for a safe vehicle.
Energy has to be dissipated in an accident.. and if vehicle deformation doesn't dissipate that energy.. it gets passed on to the occupants of the vehicle. As a result one vehicle can appear to have gotten the worst of it... and its occupants walk away shaken but unharmed. While the vehicle that looks like it won has its occupant in the morgue or intensive care because they got scrambled from the forces they were subjected to.
FadedMaster
May 13, 2011, 04:57 AM
Also think about if you get into an accident with a brick wall. Vehicle-on-vehicle accidents aren't the only kind. Just because you're driving a monster truck and instead of colliding with another vehicle you just ride over them, doesn't mean you'll be able to ride over a brick wall. Haha. An extreme example, but I'm sure you know what I mean.
There's a reason more and more vehicles are implementing crumple zones. A small accident may incapacitate your vehicle, but like smoothy said, at leas you'll be walking away.
ballengerb1
May 13, 2011, 07:57 AM
Lots of great ideas but the botton line is you can't compare a vague car and truck. Pick a specific car and truck and then you can compare and contrast. Trucks are usually bigger and heavier but not always. Your best answer would be to consult a crash rating data table where both vehicles have been crashed in a controlled environment. Newer cars to day have much better crash absorptsion and air bags than trucks.