Are minicars safe?
Over the past several years, many California residents have opted for small, subcompact vehicles in effort to save money on rising gas costs and to reduce their carbon footprints.
While these individuals may feel proud of their commitment to being frugal and environmentally-conscious, they could end up paying the price in the event of a serious car accident.
As we explained in a recent article on our website, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that minicars may not be safe in the event of a crash.
The study involved putting 11 different models of minicars through crash tests to see how they performed in different types of accidents.
Ten of the minicars ended up failing the crash tests. The one minicar that passed the crash tests did so only with an “acceptable” rating. Ultimately, the IIHS learned that some of the minicars were not able to absorb the force of a collision like larger vehicles can.
Not only do owners of minicars have to worry about their vehicles not offering them sufficient protection in the case of an accident, they also have to worry about other drivers being able to see them on the roads. Because of their small size, drivers in larger vehicles may not see minicars on the road and an accident could easily result.
Although purchasing a minicar has its benefits, including being more budget- and environment-friendly, there are also some potential drawbacks as well. That’s why it’s important to weight he pros and cons before deciding on a minicar as your next vehicle.