In 1999, 60 % of SUV occupants who died in
vehicle accidents were involved in rollover accidents. According to
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 60%
of SUV occupants who died in traffic accidents in 1999
were involved in rollovers.
Only 23% of car occupants who died were involved in
rollovers. Of the 35, 806 passenger fatalities from
traffic accidents in 1999 almost a third were due to
rollovers
From a physics point of view, the design of an
SUV makes it an inappropriate vehicle to be driven on the
highway.
How Dangerous are SUVs?
Lots of people complain about sports cars and how
fast they travel because they're all so afraid that these
cars are going to be the ones that kill them. It's true.
The faster a car travels, the more damage it's going to do
if it hits something. Of course, the weight of the vehicle
has a lot to do with it too.
Rollover Help on the Way?
New Device Could Stop SUV Rollovers
It’s no secret that sport utility vehicles are
more likely than regular cars to flip over. Studies show
SUVs are nearly four times more likely to roll over than
regular cars, and according to professional accident
investigator Rusty Haight, rollovers can be very deadly.
High-Tech SUV Stabilizers Eyed
Adding Sensors to Anti-lock Brakes May Cut Roll Overs
May 23, 2000
DETROIT (AP) – As the American desire for
pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles has grown, so
have injuries and deaths from roll-over accidents. But
technology developed in Europe might offer automakers a
way to improve stability quickly and cheaply.
Also
read¼
April
2001 issue of Discover magazine, “Roll Over, The
design of sport utility vehicles in enough to make the
father of physics turn in his grave”.
Links
http://www.users.fast.net/~mikul/cars/newtonssuv.html
http://abcnews.go.com SUV rollovers
http://www.apbnews.com/
SUV safety
