When you start shopping for a new car cost is one of the first things you think about. Maybe you're leaning towards a small fuel-efficient car to help you save money on gas and to help save the environment. As with any new vehicle purchase, one of the most important questions you have to ask is about the safety of you new car. Particularly when purchasing a smaller car, you have to know if you are putting yourself at risk in the event of an accident?
Overall, small, lightweight cars - the type that get the best gas mileage, are generally less safe that large, heavy ones. The most important aspects to a car's safety and its ability to keep you safe in the event of an accident are its safety equipment, weight and resistance to rollover. While small cars pass the roll over test easily - they are low to the ground and thus unlikely to roll, they lack weight and are less likely to have advanced safety features like stability control or full side curtain airbags.
Finding the safety rating of your small car
The first place to look at when researching the safety of your small car is the government agency responsible for conducting crash and safety tests on cars; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. The NHTSA uses a 5-star ranking program that rates the safety of cars from 1-star (not safe) to 5-stars (super safe) by conducting a variety of tests that show what happens to a car when it is in different types of accidents.
The NHTSA conducts the major tests; front-end collision, rollover resistance, and a side crash with a moving target. A star rating is applied to the car based upon how it performs. By knowing this rating you can know what will happen to your car if it is in this type of common accident.
Next, check out Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS, collects data on various car collisions in the United States and reports back to Insurance companies about the potential risks of different types of vehicles. This institute also conducts their own safety tests, but unlike the NHTSA, these tests determine how a car will hold up in an accident with another vehicle (NHTSA's tests are done with a large blunt surface, usually a wall). All of the information gathered by the IIHS can help drivers determine whether a smaller car is statistically safer on the road filled with SUV sized cars.
Finally, check with the manufacturer of any small car you are interested in. Safety isn't always determined by how well a car performs in a crash test; it can also be determined by what equipment is provided by automotive companies to make the driving experience safer. Car manufacturers have been inventing and adding new safety equipment to both small and large cars. These type of safety features can be used as a major determining factor for car safety because it reduces the likelihood of a car being involved in an accident while on the road.
What now?
Now that you have all the safety information you can find on your potential new small car, you have to decide whether the car stacks up safety wise and determine if it is the right choice for you and your family.
Regardless of what you drive, though, all experts agree that how you drive is the most important safety factor. On Texas highways, crowded with big trucks and SUV's, a small car can seem like a dangerous alternative and indeed sometimes it is. If you are in the market for a new car and are looking to save money by purchasing a smaller more fuel-efficient car, make sure you do your research and find the safest model possible.
No matter what size your car is all experts agree that how you drive is the most important safety factor. On Texas highways, crowded with large trucks and other large cars, a small car can seem like a dangerous alternative. If you are in the market for a new car and are looking to save money and considering a small fuel-efficient car, do all the research and find the safest models and add safety features when available.
Overall, small, lightweight cars - the type that get the best gas mileage, are generally less safe that large, heavy ones. The most important aspects to a car's safety and its ability to keep you safe in the event of an accident are its safety equipment, weight and resistance to rollover. While small cars pass the roll over test easily - they are low to the ground and thus unlikely to roll, they lack weight and are less likely to have advanced safety features like stability control or full side curtain airbags.
Finding the safety rating of your small car
The first place to look at when researching the safety of your small car is the government agency responsible for conducting crash and safety tests on cars; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. The NHTSA uses a 5-star ranking program that rates the safety of cars from 1-star (not safe) to 5-stars (super safe) by conducting a variety of tests that show what happens to a car when it is in different types of accidents.
The NHTSA conducts the major tests; front-end collision, rollover resistance, and a side crash with a moving target. A star rating is applied to the car based upon how it performs. By knowing this rating you can know what will happen to your car if it is in this type of common accident.
Next, check out Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS, collects data on various car collisions in the United States and reports back to Insurance companies about the potential risks of different types of vehicles. This institute also conducts their own safety tests, but unlike the NHTSA, these tests determine how a car will hold up in an accident with another vehicle (NHTSA's tests are done with a large blunt surface, usually a wall). All of the information gathered by the IIHS can help drivers determine whether a smaller car is statistically safer on the road filled with SUV sized cars.
Finally, check with the manufacturer of any small car you are interested in. Safety isn't always determined by how well a car performs in a crash test; it can also be determined by what equipment is provided by automotive companies to make the driving experience safer. Car manufacturers have been inventing and adding new safety equipment to both small and large cars. These type of safety features can be used as a major determining factor for car safety because it reduces the likelihood of a car being involved in an accident while on the road.
What now?
Now that you have all the safety information you can find on your potential new small car, you have to decide whether the car stacks up safety wise and determine if it is the right choice for you and your family.
Regardless of what you drive, though, all experts agree that how you drive is the most important safety factor. On Texas highways, crowded with big trucks and SUV's, a small car can seem like a dangerous alternative and indeed sometimes it is. If you are in the market for a new car and are looking to save money by purchasing a smaller more fuel-efficient car, make sure you do your research and find the safest model possible.
No matter what size your car is all experts agree that how you drive is the most important safety factor. On Texas highways, crowded with large trucks and other large cars, a small car can seem like a dangerous alternative. If you are in the market for a new car and are looking to save money and considering a small fuel-efficient car, do all the research and find the safest models and add safety features when available.
About the Author:
About the Author: This article was written by Al Boenker Insurance of Texas. We are car insurance experts specializing in all auto insurance in Texas. If you need a policy for a small vehicle, consider comparing rates by using our Texas auto insurance online quote. Our knowledgeable and energetic staff can help you choose the best policy with the best safety features for you.
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