In Shopping For A Car Or Truck? - Think Safety, author and ForensisGroup expert witness Michael Leshner, P.E.,
cautions that buying a larger car may save your life.
Large Vs. Small
Whether purchasing a new or used vehicle, safety should be considered along with utility, comfort, price and style. After the use or non-use of seat belts, the single most important factor in determining your chance of getting killed or seriously injured in an accident is your vehicle's weight. In fact, an extra 300 pounds of vehicle weight improves your chances of survival as much as an air bag. Try to avoid smaller vehicles, especially those weighing less than 3,000 pounds. This choice will cost more at the gas pump and might offend your sense of environmental responsibility, but it could save your life. There are some exceptions, and you can get detailed information on crash performance from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - www.iihs.org.
