Aftermarket Leads ? SUV Drivers Least Likely To Die in Crash, Says ...

Just the Facts:

• Drivers of SUVs are among the least likely to die in a crash, according to a new report released Thursday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
• The insurance industry-funded group says that SUVS are safer than ever because of the widespread availability of electronic stability control, which helps to prevent rollovers.
• The report is clearly aimed at federal regulators who are drafting new fuel-economy rules due out this fall that will force automakers to build and sell smaller, lighter vehicles.

ARLINGTON, Va. ? Drivers of SUVs are among the least likely to die in a crash, according to a dramatic new report released Thursday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But small cars are still perilous despite safety advances, according to the IIHS.

The insurance industry-funded group points out that, in the past, many top-heavy SUVs frequently rolled over, ?giving many models some of the highest driver death rates.? But SUVs are safer than ever, it contends, because of the widespread availability of electronic stability control, which helps to prevent rollovers.

?In the new analysis, the death rate for SUVs is half that of cars,? said the report.

The report is clearly aimed at federal regulators who are drafting new fuel-economy rules due out this fall that will force automakers to build and sell smaller, lighter vehicles. The report is also critical for consumers who are turning to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars in an era of high gas prices.

The death rate for SUV drivers dropped 66 percent, from 82 per million vehicles for 1999-2002 models to 28 per million for 2005-?08 models. But the death rate for drivers of small, four-door cars was 72 million vehicles for 2005-?08 models, down 35 percent from 110 per million in 1999-2002 models.

?The rollover risk in SUVs used to outweigh their size/weight advantage, but that?s no longer the case, thanks to ESC,? said Anne McCartt, the institute?s senior vice president for research, in a statement.

The report also singles out many 2005-?08 models for praise and criticism.

The old Nissan 350Z is at the top of the list of highest rates of driver deaths. The report says that among four-door midsize cars, the lowest death rate was 19 for the Honda Accord and the highest was 99 for the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu, which was sold in 2008 as the Malibu Classic. The redesigned 2008 Malibu fared better with 67.

?The high death rate of the 2007 Malibu/2008 Malibu Classic could be connected to the fact that many were sold as fleet vehicles, which may be driven differently from private vehicles,? the report said.

It noted that when looked at by vehicle style, minivans have the best record with a driver death rate of 25.

?For one thing, people don?t behave the same when they?re behind the wheel of a sports car as when they?re driving a minivan,? said the report in an explanation of adjusted driver death rates. ?And some people are more susceptible to injury and death for reasons that can?t be completely adjusted for.?

Inside Line says: This is a testament to the effectiveness of electronic stability control ? something that the feds are requiring on all new vehicles starting with 2012 models. ? Anita Lienert, Correspondent

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SUV Drivers Least Likely To Die in Crash, Says IIHS

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