The results are in on the most unsafe vehicles of 2009. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have released their findings for the crash tests that they have performed on all of the 2009 models; according to Forbes.com’s interpretation of the results, American-made vehicles litter the bottom of the list. Forbes used the IIHS and NHTSA findings and took into account Consumer Reports’ “second-tier” listings.
Crash tests were performed as early as the 1930s and “Sierra Sam,” the first noted crash test dummy was built in 1949. (Sierra Sam got his name from Alderson Research Labs “Sierra” Engineering Dept.) So it stands to show that safety has been important to the car and truck buying public for about as long as cars have been around. However, simple economics keep car makers from utilizing the safety technology that we know is out there. Nascar and Formula One vehicles crash at speeds up to 200 miles per hour and the driver walks away with nary a bruise. The technology and engineering smarts are out there, but when the Big Three are already struggling to stay solvent, it is obvious that safety options are a way to cut costs.
American consumers are urged again and again to buy American, but if they want the safest, they might have to choose the foreign-made models where the safety features come standard. Although, not all American-made vehicles performed poorly (especially when the vehicles are tested with the optional (and more expensive) safety features and there are plenty of the Big Three’s beauties at the top of the list. Right now, of course, is the time to buy a car, so with some research and shopping around it may be easier to walk away with the safe vehicle of your dreams at the lowest price.
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I have found the squared/pointed upper corner of many car doors to be unsafe for adult heads when the door is open. Two members of my family got injured on their heads when they accidentally fell into the squared/pointed corner of the open car door. One relative got injured on the skin at the corner of her eye. I believe her wearing eye glasses saved her from a direct major eye injury. My other relative injured his forehead when he fell into the upper corner. Both family members did get a small wound that bled. Many times I almost get poked in the eye by the upper corner when I get in/out of my car. I believe the rounded/curved upper door corners like I have seen on some Jeeps is the answer to this problem. I believe the squared/pointed upper door corners are a dangerous design and should be eliminated.