{"id":274,"date":"2022-02-17T17:27:24","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T18:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breastaug.me\/?p=274"},"modified":"2024-04-04T13:41:45","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T13:41:45","slug":"is-it-safe-to-drive-a-compact-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breastaug.me\/index.php\/2022\/02\/17\/is-it-safe-to-drive-a-compact-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it safe to drive a compact car?"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

When you’re thinking of buying a car, nothing may be more reliable than a compact car. They are affordable, great on gas, stylish, and depending on the make and model, could be tried-and-true in performance. Popular models include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius, and Hyundai Elantra. This class of cars, one step above subcompact cars and one step below mid-size cars, seats up to four passengers comfortably, though for car buyers on the market, that may not be enough. In terms of choices, light trucks like sports utility vehicles (SUVs), crossovers, pickups, and minivans now account for\u00a0over 75 percent of new vehicle sales<\/strong><\/a>, a trend that began almost 20 years ago. But on a road with increasing numbers of larger vehicles, is it safe to drive a compact car?<\/p>\n

The advantages of a compact car<\/p>\n

Lower cost.\u00a0<\/strong>One of the most appealing factors of a compact car is its price. If you can’t afford what you really want in a first car, if you are a struggling college student, a conscientious buyer or just looking for an additional, low-cost family vehicle, the affordability of a compact car has always been a great selling point.<\/p>\n

Fuel economy<\/strong>. Because there isn’t a lot of power needed to get these small cars moving, you get more miles per gallon and, therefore, better fuel economy with a compact car, which may be a huge savings for most people. This, along with the low purchase price of a compact care, make it a very economical option for many car buyers.<\/p>\n

Easier to drive and park.\u00a0<\/strong>Compact cars are easier to maneuver on the road in steering and in some parking situations, such as parallel parking, reverse parking or in areas where parking is tight. The small nature of a compact car makes them easy and ideal for narrow roads, such as those found in many cities and towns in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Vehicle features.\u00a0<\/strong>Many of today’s compact cars come with features that were previously found in expensive cars, like four doors, cargo space, GPS navigation, keyless entry, power locks and windows, and top-of- the-line sound systems.\u00a0Technological advancements<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0add appeal to any new car, including a compact car.<\/p>\n

The safety of a compact car<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In theory,\u00a0compact cars are seen favorably in terms of safety<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0because of their multitude of safety features, many of which come standard in car models. These features include front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), LED headlamps, blind spot monitoring, seatbelt and anchoring advancements for car seats, brake assist, and backup cameras. In addition, many popular compact car models perform well in safety and crash test ratings.<\/p>\n

However, newer SUVs also feature advanced safety features that have become standard for many models, and in the past few decades, have become lighter and more car-like as a vehicle.\u00a0 They may even feature safety options smaller cars would not have room for, such as backseat air bags. Pickup are less likely to have advanced safety features, but in terms of safety measures, SUVs have been getting closer to those features already enabled in compact cars.<\/p>\n

The dangers of compact cars<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Even with the safety features that come standard with many compact cars and their satisfactory performance in safety tests, drivers and passengers of these cars face higher fatalities and more severe injuries in collisions with bigger cars.<\/p>\n

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS),\u00a0small cars and minicars accounted for 15 of the 20 models with the highest death rates<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for model year 2017. In contrast, half of the 20 models with the lowest death rate were luxury SUVs. Smaller vehicles, it has been stated, receive the brunt of the force in collisions with larger vehicles and this accounts for those high rates. In addition to higher death rates to compact cars, larger vehicles also inflict greater injury to the body. However, there are certain models that are outliers. In that IIHS study, there were two 2017 compact models that defied the trend: the Volkswagen Golf and the Nissan Leaf. They had very low death rates compared to the high average rates of the rest of its compact car class.<\/p>\n

Are large cars (SUVs and trucks) having an impact on compact cars?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The prevalence of large vehicles on the road, whether they are SUVs, minivans, small pickups or large, is a reality. For the occupants of a larger vehicle, statistics show they have the lowest death rates in a collision compared to occupants in smaller vehicles.<\/p>\n

However,\u00a0IIHS has found that large vehicles<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0like SUVs are more likely to kill pedestrians than smaller cars. Other research has stated larger, full-size trucks, because of their sheer size and frame, create blind spots that can hide pedestrians and smaller cars, increasing the risk of collision, severe injury, and death to those on and around the road with them. Researchers have stated bigger vehicles have a harder time avoiding crashes. But as new car sales have indicated, the market is there for bigger vehicles.<\/p>\n

Why do car accidents happen?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While the safety and impact of large vehicles on the road is being studied and researched, especially in comparison to a compact car, driver behavior cannot be overlooked.\u00a0 Here are some of the leading reasons accidents occur:<\/p>\n