In fact, all vehicles that are certified to drive on the road have to be approved by the NHTSA. This is why many small motorcycles and other vehicles cannot be driven on the public roadways.
Size And The Best Safest Hybrid Cars
Many hybrid vehicles are smaller because smaller vehicles tend to use less fuel than larger vehicles. For the most part, this is because of simple physics. It takes less power and less fuel to move a smaller and lighter object than it does to move a heavier object.
Unfortunately, the IIHS has also shown that drivers of compact and subcompact cars are more likely to be seriously injured in multiple vehicle accidents. However, though hybrid vehicles may tend to be lighter than other vehicles, things aren’t quite what they seem. There are gasoline powered vehicles that are the same approximate size as the best safest hybrid vehicles. Additionally, there are some larger vehicles on the list of the best safest hybrid vehicles, including the Ford Escape and the Mercury Mariner hybrid SUVs. Or you may want to consider a Toyota Camry hybrid or Nissan Altima hybrid, as these vehicles are larger, but still offer some of the same advantages of the Honda Civic hybrid.
Researching Vehicle Safety
It’s always best to be sure that you do your research no matter which type of vehicle you choose. If you are concerned about vehicle safety, you can visit the IIHS website at http://www.iihs.org/ to review the results of their crash tests. Additionally, the IIHS gathers data from insurance companies regarding property damage and injuries from accidents around the country. They publish this information on their website as well, giving you a more thorough idea of the safety of whichever vehicle you are researching.
Safety Concerns With Hybrid Vehicles
One of the more publicized problems with a hybrid vehicle isn’t shown in crash test ratings. Many people who are blind or visually impaired rely on hearing a vehicle’s motor to be sure they aren’t walking in front of a car when they cross the street. Since hybrid vehicles tend to be quieter, it can be more difficult to hear the motor from more than a few feet away. However, many automakers have been working on a way for their vehicles to make a louder sound when they are operating on the electric motor at low speeds. For example, a new version of the Nissan Altima offers artificial engine noises that operate while the vehicle is traveling under 10 miles per hour. If your hybrid vehicle doesn’t have an artificial sound to enhance the engine noises, you might consider purchasing a device from Data System Co. based in Tokyo. This device offers a number of different sounds including that of a human voice saying “Excuse me,” or a cat meowing and retails for around $140.
Many people have been concerned that the electric motor in a hybrid vehicle emits an electromagnetic field or EMF that will affect or even stop pacemakers or defibrillators. Though these vehicles do emit EMFs, as long as the person with the pacemaker or defibrillator does not get within a couple of inches of the motor, there should be no problem. Since normal driving conditions do not include getting that close to the motor, this concern is groundless.
Safety And The Best Safest Hybrid Vehicles
Many automakers are aware of the dangers inherent in smaller vehicles, and they are working on improving the safety of compact and subcompact cars. For example, the Honda hybrid vehicles now include a rigid body frame, offering the vehicle’s occupants a better chance of fewer injuries if they are in a multiple vehicle accident. Additionally, all newer hybrid vehicles offer electronic stability control, allowing drivers the ability to maintain control even when they have to make abrupt maneuvers like those you’d make when trying to avoid an accident.
Though there are some compact vehicles on the list of the best safest hybrid vehicles, there are some mid-size and larger vehicles that are also on the list. With the wide selection of sizes offered, you can find the vehicle that you need without having to choose a gasoline only powered vehicle if you want a gasoline electric hybrid. Additionally, if you find a hybrid vehicle that you like, you can go to the NHTSA website at http://www.safercar.gov to get more information on how well this vehicle tested in their safety testing. Though their website may seem confusing at first, there is a link in the middle of the page to the safety ratings where you can search by year, make, and model of the vehicle you are considering.
One of the ways in which a hybrid vehicle may be less safe is in the high voltage circuits for the electric motor. However, these circuits and wires are well marked, allowing you to be sure that you stay away from them unless you are trained on working with hybrid vehicles. The circuits aren’t in a place where you would encounter them in day to day use of the car, so you don’t need to worry that you’ll touch them accidentally.
Overall, gasoline electric hybrid vehicles are as safe as any other vehicle of a similar size. Automakers have worked to make these vehicles as safe as possible while retaining the fuel economy that many want in a vehicle. Additionally, the NHTSA and the IIHS test hybrid vehicles as thoroughly as they do traditional gasoline powered vehicles. With the test results in front of you, you can be assured that you have chosen the vehicle with the best fuel economy to meet your needs without worrying that you are putting your family’s safety at risk.
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