Something most of us knew already. Sadly.
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4WDs a risk to other road users: survey
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/4WDs-a-risk-to-other-road-users-survey/2006/06/27/1151174195818.html
June 27, 2006 - 6:09PM
They are a menace to many a car driver, cyclist or pedestrian.
Now road users may have even more to fear from large four-wheel drive vehicles, if the results of a used car survey are anything to go by.
Researchers from Melbourne's Monash University say all but one of the large four-wheel drive models rated in the survey topped the list of vehicles more likely than average to seriously injure other road users in a crash.
Used cars were rated in two categories - crash worthiness and aggressivity - based on the performance of 305 models involved in more than 1.7 million crashes in Australia and New Zealand between 1987 and 2004.
Crash worthiness is defined by the amount of protection afforded to the vehicle's driver in a crash, while aggressivity is defined by how badly the vehicle is likely to harm other road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, in a crash.
While large four-wheel drive models generally boasted good crash worthiness, they put "other road users at disproportionately high risk" under the aggressivity criteria, the report said.
Of the 305 vehicle models surveyed overall, 284 also were assessed for their aggressivity, with the average vehicle rating resulting in 3.9 deaths and serious injuries to other road users in every 100 crashes.
By comparison, large four-wheel drives were responsible for 6.1 deaths and serious injuries per 100 crashes.
Project leader Stuart Newstead said small cars were not a safe bet when it came to crash worthiness.
"No light cars had crash worthiness better than average and of 37 light cars, more than half scored in the worst possible rating," Dr Newstead said.
"Buyers need to think carefully about a purchase in this class, especially young drivers who have a high crash risk and old drivers who are more susceptible to injury."
Rising fuel prices are also a factor, with some buyers opting for a smaller car believing them to be a more economical.
"People need to be very conscious of the safety issue: you might save yourself a couple of extra dollars a week but what's your life worth?"
Researchers said most used luxury car models surveyed generally demonstrated good results while one car model, the Subaru Forester, rated as a top performer in both criteria.
The Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) survey, conducted by Monash's Accident Research Centre, and which is the largest study of vehicle crashes in the world, concludes the main factor used car buyers should consider is safety.
"While the best protection against injury is to drive safely and encourage other road users to drive safely, the safer your car, the better off you'll be when the unexpected happens," David Healy, of the Transport Accident Commission, said.
"According to the European Transport Safety Council, if everyone drove the safest car in its class, the road toll could be halved overnight."