Report: Bigger but lighter cars found to improve crash safety

Posted Thu Apr 24 2008 11:42 AM by Ralph Hanson

One of the most effective methods of improving fuel-economy is reducing vehicle weight but the challenge for car designers is how to reduce weight while keeping costs down and safety standards up. Modern safety features such as passenger cells and complex airbag systems add significant weight to a vehicle but a new study claims carmakers can make lighter cars just as safe by removing bulky components and using more aluminum and composite materials.

The study, titled ‘Triple Safety’, was completed by researcher Laura Schewel of the Rocky Mountain Institute. Some of her findings run against the conventional thinking that bigger and heavier cars are safer to drive in than lighter vehicles, reports MarketWatch.

While size does play an important role, crush zones and structural features designed to absorb impacts are just as important. Lighter cars tend to experience a faster deceleration than heavier cars in two-car impacts, but this is only one of several factors in determining overall occupant safety. According to her findings, length and design are more important than weight.

Her conclusion was that a big, light car that was designed well could be safer in an impact than a conventional vehicle that was simply big and heavy. Of course, such a design is not always feasible, especially in a market as competitive as the auto industry.

Reader Comments

Thu Apr 24 2008 12:17 PM
chris says

yes, these findings arent that crazy. you could make a bigger, yet less dense, vehicle that would fair better in crashes. the problem is a lot of people place huge value on design and look of a car, and with fuel economy being as big as it is these days, aerodynamics is going to play HUGE on vehicle design in the near future.

I just want to see the CF industry get bigger so that the 2020 F-150 can have a CF frame to save 600 lbs in weight.
Thu Apr 24 2008 2:27 PM
Gus says

Yes, I could see a bigger car (with a longer nose) being able to dissipate the forces over a longer distance and time (every millisecond counts).

MotorAuthority