It is absolutely true that modern cars are much, much safer than vehicles of even 15 years ago. But just because car manufacturers have made great strides with structural integrity and air handling technology does not mean that the average car is invincible. This is exactly what a new study, published Thursday, from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and AAA found.
The groups looked at rising speed limits across the country and what this means for the average modern car, which is about 12 years old in 2021. With a handful of 2010 Honda CR-V have crossings at their disposal, they tested it with incremental speed increases. First, a CR-V crashed at 40 km / h and it held up well with minimal intrusions into the cabin. With a jump of 50 km / h, the vehicle has a ‘noticeable deformation’ of the opening of the driver’s side door, dashboard and foot area. This is exactly what you do not want in case of an accident, as parts and components threaten inward pressure and occupants. Think ideally of the cabin as a cocoon while the outside crumbles around it.
Remember, in most states, highway speeds between the highway are between 55 km / h and 65 km / h and climb to 80 km / h in eight states. IIHS noted that speed limits do not cover the drivers and talked to the elephant in the room: we tend to go faster than the speed limits anyway. In countries with a speed limit of 80 km / h, drivers can probably do 90 km / h.
In the third and final collision test, the vehicle was sent only 56 km per hour in a wreck and IIHS noted that the inside of the CR-V was ‘significantly in danger’. Worse: the collision disc recorded neck injuries and signs of broken leg bones. With just a speed increase of 6 km / h from 50 km / h, drivers have a much greater chance of injury.
However, at both 50 km / h and 56 km / h, the steering wheel movement also caused the dummy’s head to push through the airbag and its face to collide with the steering wheel. The possibility of facial fractures and ‘serious brain injury’ rated ‘high risk’ at these speeds.
IIHS and AAA have encouraged policymakers to take this into account as they repeal regulations or enforcement policies regarding speed limits. Drivers should also keep this in mind: it is easy to forget to travel far as a speed limit, saving only a few minutes.
Look at this:
Jeep Wrangler rolls during IIHS crash test
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