[nicholasharnois]

What is safer a truck or a car

[smoothy]

To do what? Negotiate traffic in Saigon or drive through a mine field during active combat?

[nicholasharnois]

Just which is safer to drive with on road like if you get hit which is safer

[smoothy]

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]

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) for the latest independent info.

[nicholasharnois]

Thank you for all your help
Nic

[samuelspeak]

It basically depends on the make and model. But I guess trucks are usually safer. And so are SUVs.

[smoothy]

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]

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]

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.