SUVs are safe for their passengers, they cause more damage in the event of a collision

Although increasingly popular SUVs are safe for those sitting in them, they cause more damage to the other side of the collision in an accident, whether it is a small car or a pedestrian. This was pointed out in a press release from the Center for Transport Research (CDV).

„Thanks to their higher weight and often more robust construction, these vehicles provide their passengers with a higher level of protection in the event of a collision with another vehicle. However, the same parameters that contribute to increasing the protection of the occupants of these vehicles increase the risk of injury not only to the occupants of the collided vehicle but also to pedestrians. “ Veronika Valentová, Director of the Traffic Engineering Division of the CDV, pointed out.

According to the center, the higher safety of SUVs, ie heavier vehicles, is also evidenced by data obtained during an in-depth analysis of traffic accidents. While only 14 percent of accidents were unharmed for cars weighing up to one tonne, for cars weighing more than 1.5 tonnes, where most SUVs fall, this accounted for 46 percent of accidents.

The CDV also said that Euro NCAP had announced changes in vehicle testing. For example, it will evaluate not only the protection inside the test car, but also how the front structure contributes to accidents in the car that the test car collides with.

„In the past decade, almost half a million new passenger SUVs and off-road vehicles have been registered in the Czech Republic. Hundreds of thousands more vehicles are used registrations of used vehicles. It is entirely appropriate that the Euro NCAP crash tests have captured this trend and will take it into account in their assessment. “ added Valentová.

ČTK

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