Impact of SUVs in a crash

[MassiveCars]

Recently there was a terrible accident involving a 2 ton car
What stood out was the mention of the weight of the vehicle
So I did a couple of calcs
An SUV of 1972kg doing 30mph has the same Kinetic Energy of a small car of 1221kg doing 38mph
A larger SUV of 2598kg has the same Kinetic Energy of a small car of 1221kg doing 44mph
All these large SUVs doing 30mph create the same damage as a smaller car doing 38mph to 44mph
There must be enough maths & physics teachers on here to check this out
I did think of mentioning the small car and the big car types ?

But large SUVs (=large weight) are a much more serious danger to kids at 30mph than your small cars at 30mph

There is great emphasis on 30mph, perhaps we should enforce slower speeds for heavier vehicles if safety is the objective

in that case you should stop protesting that you have to have an SUV when you freely chose keeping a horse as your hobby!

It’s not hot summer weather, it’s the hottest weather ever recorded. Man-made climate change on our doorstep.

Also, you were the one who introduced climate change. So get off your climate change denying high horse and engage with science.

You know non-SUVs are less likely to roll in a collision, don’t you? Not the cleverest example to use.

They’ve had to introduce a new crash test (roof strength) because so many SUVs were falling over.

I think you're being derided as you're making statements that just don't stack up to anyone who understands or appreciates the physics involved.

But probably best to leave it at that.

But being a firefighter at a particular RTA does not make him an expert in whether or not SUVs are more likely to roll or not. In order to know for sure you’d need an SUV and a non SUV and give them both exactly the same impact……which is what they’ve done in crash tests which have found they’re more likely to roll. 🤷‍♀️

All I said in relation to your post about the accident your husband went to was that it was more likely to have rolled with it being an SUV. And you came back with a silly little statement about turtles. And insisted your husband knew what had caused the car to roll.

Nobody is saying that the car which side swiped it wasn’t the major contributing factor however the fact it was an SUV could also have been a significant contributing factor as backed up by the evidence. Rather than anecdotal opinions. Your husband, as a firefighter, has no way of knowing, unless there was a non SUV at the same place, hit with the same force, in the same direction which also rolled.

Sometimes any car can have a big side impact and not roll, sometimes what seems like a small side impact might make it roll…..lots of dependent factors but centre of gravity is a major factor.

I have an SUV, it’s 1700kg. I live in rural Wales, I like to be able to get up hills in the snow. From 17 September this year Welsh Government is bringing in a default 20mph limit on restricted roads and busy pedestrian streets. I didn’t read the whole thread (sorry I know it’s a cardinal sin and I don’t usually like it when others don’t do it, but it seemed to be turning into a class/wealth argument which is gross - my car is 12 years old by the way!) but surely this is less about cars and more about drivers? I know absolute idiots who drive cars that weigh less than a cornflake and they do far less damage to people than me (never had so much as a parking ticket). It’s not about vehicles, it’s about driving behaviours.

*far more, sorry had to answer my phone at the same time. Don’t worry, I’m not in my car!

@GwinGwyn i think most people accept that some people in rural communities will need a 4x4. Or perhaps need the weight to pull a horse trailer.

But where I live there’s loads of non 4x4 SUVs. My village is right next to a major A road which is always gritted, the main roads in the village are gritted, it’s all flat, it snows one day every 3 years. But the village school drop off zone is full of SUVs, I know 90% of the parents, they don’t have horse boxes. They may have a couple of kids and need a bigger car but they like SUVs rather than need one.

One of them reversed into my car outside the school a couple of years ago as he tried to do a three point turn over the pavement. He got out and said he couldn’t see a thing out the back and had only just got it back from the garage after doing the same to another car. 🤷‍♀️🙈.

I think we’re probably on the same page here, as your example shows. Bad drivers, not bad vehicles! Mine is a 4x4 because I need traction in bad weather and nowhere near me is gritted. I think that lots of people with multiple kids moved across from the people carrier to the SUV because performance is better and they look nicer, but still have the space to transport multiple sprogs plus shopping etc. All that said, I know two VERY bad drivers in my life, one of whom has a 4x4 and one who has a hot hatch (which is tiny). Both have had issues with stationery trees in their time (and one was a driver for the army!)

My car was 2.6 tonnes. A Volkswagen up went into the side of me when I was on a roundabout. They were going at speed (driver was charged). It threw my car to the other side of the road and wrote it off. I bought the same make and model because I would never even consider a smaller car for my children after seeing the impact it took.

A big part of the reason I bought mine was because it had five stars across the board for safety in the ENCAP ratings. I’ve not been in accident, but saw one happen on the opposite of the dual carriageway and the car crumpled like a concertina. Horrifying. Crumple zones and airbags are literal lifesavers.

@GwinGwyn it's a terrifying thought - especially with young children. I've had a fair few 'Chelsea Tractor' comments and could not care less. Expensive to run but safety is my priority!

Well quite, provided you're a safe and non-obnoxious driver, no one has the right to question your vehicle choice. I've also just recognised a thought that has been lurking at the back of mind and has only just come to the front. A few months after I passed my driving test (so early 1997, I passed in November 1996) my aunt and uncle were knocked off what's known as the Heads of Valleys road by a drunk driver. Literally the car fell off the mountain. Aunt killed instantly, uncle was hooked up to machines but his brain was mush. They had a double funeral. Ever since then I think I've put more stock in vehicle safety measures because you don't get to redo these things. Also, on a lighter note, in the not-too-distant future I'd like to get a dog and they did a Labrador test in my car marque when it was first released and it got top marks! I want a Shibu Inu but I think the principle is the same!

@GwinGwyn this is terribly sad - I'm so sorry. It certainly puts things into perspective with regards to car safety. And I'm sure yours will do a brand job of keeping your future Shiba Inu safe too!

I appreciate that, thank you, it was a very long time ago but I think being a brand new driver it really sent a bolt of lightning through me. Probably not a bad thing at all.

Ah I hope so! They have these brilliant hammocks you can buy for the back seats which still allow the air bags to work and he can be clipped into the seatbelt holder too for anchorage.

I say 'he', because I already have his name - Tedi!

You seem late to the party. Let me catch you up.

1. Yes he was in a perfect place to give first hand knowledge OF THAT PARTICULAR ACCIDENT More than you or any of the other posters here who seem to think otherwise
2. No one, him or me, have said anywhere in this thread that SUV’s don’t have a higher center of gravity and chance to roll
3. He is not a mansplainer
4. I am not a silly little woman who needs my nerves soothed from the scary outside world
5. Oreo’s is probably not going to give up her horse to drive a small car
6. Physics nerds are awesome
7. SamanthaCain is still insulting me and “hubby”

I think that covers it. Oh and somebody called someone else a twat and got their post deleted.

At the end of the day people will buy the vehicles they want

And does that include pedestrians and cyclists as well? Or are you just content to wipe out these lower lifeforms?

You’re a troll. Bore off with your idiocy.

Climate change deniers are twats. I stand by my post. The helpless soul indeed.

@Bingbangbongbash

The common theme on this thread is that you launch personal attacks, name call etc, just because folk dare to have a different, often sensible view that opposes your indoctrination.

Climate change has been happening from the Big Bang. Get a telescope, you can see it happening right now in the cosmos.

As for SUVs, they are safer for occupants. If pedestrians chance their luck in the road, then thats on them.

Thank you for proving my point about your decorum.

Helpless soul, so pedestrians and cyclists don't matter in your pyramid of importance?