The content of the article:
- A bit of history
- How to determine how dangerous a car model is
- Anti-rating of car safety
Choosing a car, the buyer analyzes a large number of characteristics and criteria at once. The power and reliability of the engine, transmission, components and interior equipment are under close scrutiny.
But the most important factor that has a decisive influence on the choice of a model should be its safety.
A bit of history
Probably, now this is hard to believe, but back in the middle of the last century, no one was particularly worried about the safety of the car. There was no question of any airbags and seat belts, head restraints, specially designed crumple areas of the body part or ABS at all. Even the simplest accident left no chance for the driver or passengers to survive.
Over time, it became clear that the numbers of human casualties in "peaceful" car accidents are quite comparable to the losses of armies in military clashes. The cars began to be tested, simulating accidents, in order to understand how to ensure the survival and health of the passengers and the driver.
Crash tests carried out have allowed us to accumulate important information about what measures can make driving in a car safe.
How to determine how dangerous a car model is
Modern car designers begin the development of a new model precisely with a security system. The new car is tested first using computer simulation, and then in real tests, using up to one and a half hundred different models of emergency situations.
In Europe, a number of mandatory tests have been adopted for cars, from front and side collisions with an obstacle to the safety of children in the car, pedestrians on the road and assessing the presence of various electronic systems that help the driver avoid accidents. As a result, after testing and an expert opinion, the model is assigned an assessment on a five-point scale.
But not all countries adhere to the European standard described above. For example, the Swedes have their own test system to complement the European test. Its own testing system exists in China.
Despite all the measures taken, there will always be safer cars in the automotive market and those in which it is better not to sit if you want to preserve your health and life.
To determine how dangerous a car is, the following factors are taken into account:
- crash test results;
- the number of real accidents involving this model;
- the number of insured events in which injuries were recorded per thousand insured events involving this model.
Anti-rating of car safety
To date, the following models are included in a kind of anti-rating of the most dangerous cars in the world:
Brilliance BS6
It is quite predictable that the Chinese model is in the first place of the anti-rating. In fairness, it should be noted that along with Brilliance, this place belongs to Geely CK and Chery A15 - also the brainchild of the Chinese car industry.
According to the results of crash tests, all three cars are practically destroyed in collisions: their body cannot withstand even the minimum emergency load. In other words, in an accident such a "foil car" is completely unable to take a blow - the body instantly crumples, and the chances of surviving inside the passenger compartment tend to zero.
In fairness, it should be added that Chinese manufacturers are constantly improving the safety level of their cars, but while their "offspring" regularly receive a sad palm among the most dangerous models, it may be worth giving up such a dubious purchase - no savings will be needed if such a car fly into an accident.
Toyota Yaris
The very end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century were marked by a general jump in car prices and an increase in the cost of car fuel. As a result, manufacturers have attended to the development and release of economical small-sized models.
The haste and the desire to please customers who want to save as much as possible have led to the fact that even in such seemingly reliable and eminent automakers as the Japanese Toyota, "black sheep" began to appear.
An example of this is the Yaris model, produced since 1999. For the driver, this car is at the very least safe, but for children-passengers and pedestrians, it is a real killer car.
Currently, manufacturers have listened to criticism and released the third generation of the model, significantly improved from a safety point of view.
DeLorean DMC-12
The car, which we know mainly to those who watched the movie "Back to the Future". You are unlikely to find this model "live" in our Palestinians, and, probably, it is not so bad. At home in Northern Ireland, this car began to be called nothing more than "would-be auto".
Of course, exotic doors resembling gull wings look very unusual and attractive, but ironically, they became one of the main reasons for the low level of security.
In an accident, the structure easily jams, and if the car overturns, the doors will not be able to open at all, even in good condition. In this case, it becomes difficult to get out of the car due to the small window openings.
Pontiac fiero
According to the results of crash tests in 1984, this car by General Motors was named the safest car in the history of the automotive industry. This is a vivid example of the fact that not only the results of laboratory crash tests and computer simulations should be involved in assessing the safety of a car.
As soon as the declared "safest" car began to get into real accidents on the roads, the manufacturers grabbed their heads - it turned out that this Pontiac is better to use not on highways and city roads, but on the filming of thrillers and action films. The car burns just fine.
The reason is the poor location of the engine and cooling systems. Also, low quality electronics contributed to the fact that the Fiero may well catch on fire without any external reason, just during operation.
Audi 5000
The Audi 500 is the American version of the regular Audi 100, notorious for its uncontrollable (spontaneous) acceleration. The reason is in a constructive error, leading to the fact that the car could arbitrarily begin to accelerate strongly where the driver does not need it at all.
For example, a car could, for no reason or at all, rush along a quiet sleepy street or through a parking lot, “refuse” to slow down at a crossing.
Audi specialists organized three reviews of their model, trying to make constructive changes to the gas pedal. Neither in 1982 nor in 1983 the desired result was achieved, and only in 1987 the correct design was found, but the positive image of the car was already lost forever.
Ford Bronco II
This Ford model was originally marketed as a station wagon SUV. As with the previous model, the model received a fair amount of praise from both testers and motorists before mass production.
But when the car went en masse on the roads, it became clear that the designers had not taken into account something.: The high ground clearance required by the SUV was not balanced in the right place by the center of gravity. As a result, at a sharp turn, the car, which was supposed to be a model of stability, easily turned over and flew somersault.
In 1990, a special investigation was carried out to establish the level of danger of the car.The results were disappointing - it turned out that only in the first 12 months of mass operation of the model, about 70 people died.
Ford explorer
And again - Ford products. Explorer fully illustrates the adage “the best is the enemy of the good”. As soon as the first version of the car entered the market, it became clear that its sustainability did not hold up.
The management of the concern ordered a number of additional tests, during which it was concluded that the problem lies in the design features of the suspension. The car was recalled, but for some reason the engineers did not dare to make changes to the suspension. Instead, they decided to replace the wheels.
Alas, this solved the problem of stability, but overall the safety level of the model remained low. In particular, the front passenger seat turned out to be dangerous. Crash tests showed that this place in the Ford Explorer is even more dangerous than the driver's seat - it turned out that the designers did not bother to strengthen the right side of the car at all.
Based on the results of this testing, Ford gave assurances that it would revise its power structure design and promised to improve occupant protection.
Fiat Punto
It should be clarified right away that this car is not officially on sale in Russia at the moment. But the "gray" suppliers continue to bring and sell the model.
For Punto, the percentage of safety is in the range of 43 to 51 percent. A meeting with this "Italian" also does not bode well for passengers: the percentage of safety for them is only 52%.
These figures should have encouraged the manufacturers of the model to withdraw it from the market altogether, but for some reason this does not happen.
Kia models
In the photo: Kia Rio
The penultimate place in the anti-rating of the reliability of the car is shared by two models of the Korean company at once - Picanto and Rio in the performance of a hatchback.
Testing has shown that when crashing into a solid barrier, passengers in the rear seats received dangerous head injuries, and the front passenger and driver were at risk of neck when hitting the rear of the car.
Tesla and i3 electric cars
In the photo: Tesla S
Oddly enough, electric cars also do not shine with a level of security, although they were developed literally in recent years, when many technologies and techniques have already been accumulated that do everything to ensure it.
However, experts noted that the active safety of cars is not bad, but the overall result is clearly disappointing - the Top Safety Pick level, which is assigned to safe cars by researchers of the American Institute of Automobile Safety, was not achieved by the models.
A frontal collision leaves no chances for electric car drivers due to incorrectly installed seat belts. The roof of an electric vehicle does not withstand the rollover load. Special bewilderment of the experts was caused by the blocked (!) Emergency braking system in the case of the basic Tesla configuration: if you want to unlock it, pay extra!
Conclusion
The given anti-rating clearly demonstrates that there are plenty of cars in the world that can turn out to be very dangerous even with a small accident. Therefore, when purchasing a car, special attention should be paid to the safety level of a particular model. This will save yourself from trouble and save your life and health.
